Now Reading: Galle Gallants beat Jaffna Kings to win maiden LPL title
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Galle Gallants beat Jaffna Kings to win maiden LPL title
Galle Gallants defeated Jaffna Kings by five wickets in the Lanka Premier League final in Colombo on Saturday, winning their first title. Jaffna Kings, three-time champions, posted just 123 runs as Charith…
The Story in Brief
Galle Gallants defeated Jaffna Kings by five wickets in the Lanka Premier League final in Colombo on Saturday, winning their first title. Jaffna Kings, three-time champions, posted just 123 runs as Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga took three wickets each for Gallants. In reply, Gallants overcame early setbacks with a 64-run partnership between Thomas Fraser Rogers (34 off 27 balls) and Dinura Kalupahana (31 off 19 balls). Captain Dasun Shanaka finished with 20 off nine balls to seal the win in the 16th over.
The victory ended Jaffna Kings' reign and marked Gallants' maiden LPL crown. Only four Jaffna batters reached double digits, with opener Kamil Mishara top-scoring on 41. For Gallants, Tharindu Ratnayke also chipped in with two wickets. The chase saw two early wickets fall before Rogers and Kalupahana rebuilt, and another mini-collapse reduced Gallants to 75 for four, but Shanaka's late hitting took them home.
The Indian Opinion
Some narratives paint this upset as a one-man show or a fluke, but the win came from a team effort: three wickets each for Asalanka and Malinga, a 64-run stand between Rogers and Kalupahana, and Shanaka's finishing cameo. The real story is not about luck but about collective grit against a three-time champion. Watch for whether Gallants can defend their title next season or if this remains a solitary high.
Sources (2): sportstar.thehindu.com, indiatvnews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
