Galle Gallants defeated Dambulla Sixers by 44 runs in the Lanka Premier League's final round match, posting the fifth-highest total in tournament history at 220/6, largely due to a devastating batting display by all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne.
Galle Gallants maintained their position at the top of the points table with a commanding 44-run victory over Dambulla Sixers in the final fixture of the tournament held in Dambulla. The Gallants' batting lineup produced a dominant performance, accumulating 220 for six wickets—the highest total of the current season and the fifth-best in Lanka Premier League history.
The decisive moment came when all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne walked in to bat at the halfway stage with Gallants positioned at 108 for three. Karunaratne's innings proved to be the turning point, as he struck six sixes and four fours to finish unbeaten on 72 off 34 deliveries. His aggressive batting transformed the latter stages of the innings, including a remarkable 27-run bombardment off Mohammad Wasim in the final over. Karunaratne fell just four runs short of his personal best T20 score while constructing a 56-run partnership with Sahan Arachchige and a 45-run stand off 14 balls with Tharindu Ratnayake.
Earlier contributions came from the Gallants' opening pair of Sam Harper and Nurul Hasan, who combined for 40 runs in the powerplay, with Harper scoring 41 off 27 balls and Hasan contributing 29 off 13 deliveries. Charith Asalanka added 31 runs from 20 balls. In response, Dambulla Sixers' chase faltered despite promising start through Niroshan Dickwella and Sahibzada Farhan's 49-run opening partnership. The Sixers' middle order, led by Ramesh Mendis's unbeaten 39, managed only 176 runs as leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage restricted the innings with three wickets for 17 runs.
