Dambulla Sixers vs Jaffna Kings, 4th Match, Lanka Premier League 2026
Date: July 19, 2026
Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
In an exhilarating match of the Lanka Premier League, the Jaffna Kings triumphed over the Dambulla Sixers by 5 wickets. Bhanuka Rajapaksa's powerful innings of 61* off 37 balls led the Kings to victory, while Lizaad Williams and Traveen Mathew's impressive bowling dismantled the Sixers' lineup. The player of the match was undoubtedly Bhanuka Rajapaksa for his match-winning performance.
Detailed Match Narrative
The Dambulla Sixers, after being put into bat by the Jaffna Kings who won the toss and opted to bowl first, struggled to build partnerships on a challenging pitch. Despite several starts, no batsman managed to reach a half-century. Niroshan Dickwella top-scored with a brisk 23 off 16 balls, including three boundaries. Pavan Rathnayake contributed a valuable 27 runs off just 16 balls, showcasing aggressive intent with five fours.
The bowling attack of Jaffna Kings was led by Lizaad Williams and Traveen Mathew, both claiming three wickets each. Williams finished with figures of 3 for 14 in just 2.3 overs, while Mathew took 3 for 19 in his spell. Shakib Al Hasan also chipped in with two crucial wickets for just 12 runs from his four overs.
Chasing a modest target of 131, the Jaffna Kings faced early setbacks as they lost wickets at regular intervals. However, Bhanuka Rajapaksa anchored the innings brilliantly. His unbeaten knock of 61 included four fours and four sixes, ensuring that the chase was completed with an over to spare. His aggressive yet calculated approach was instrumental in steadying the innings after initial hiccups.
Dushmantha Chameera was the standout bowler for the Dambulla Sixers with figures of 2 for 29 from his four overs, while Maheesh Theekshana was economical with figures of 1 for 11 in his full quota of four overs.
Overall, it was a well-fought contest but Bhanuka Rajapaksa's heroics ensured that Jaffna Kings emerged victorious in this thrilling encounter.
