Colombo Kaps secured a place in Qualifier 2 of the LPL 2026 with a commanding 68-run victory over Kandy Royals, driven by Ben McDermott's aggressive batting display and a disciplined bowling performance.
Colombo Kaps advanced to Qualifier 2 of the Lanka Premier League following a dominant win against Kandy Royals at what appears to be a neutral venue. The hosts posted 203 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs, with the total built on the back of several contributors throughout the innings.
The standout performance came from Australian batsman Ben McDermott, who crafted an explosive 71-run knock off just 39 deliveries, striking four boundaries and seven sixes in the process. His acceleration provided the impetus for Colombo's total, while James Neesham contributed 42 runs and Janith Liyanage added 32 to the scorecard.
Kandy Royals fell well short in their chase, managing only 135 runs in 18.4 overs despite Lahiru Igalagamage's 50-run effort at the top of the order. The visiting side's batting collapsed in the face of Colombo's multi-faceted bowling attack, with five different bowlers claiming two wickets each. Shahnawaz Dahani, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wanuja Sahan, Malsha Tharupathi, and Milan Rathnayake shared the wickets among them, demonstrating the depth of Colombo's bowling resources. Dahani's two-wicket haul came at an economical rate of 16 runs, while Sahan's figures read 2-08.
The comprehensive victory sends Colombo Kaps into the next stage of the tournament with considerable momentum and a well-rounded squad capable of both aggressive batting and controlled bowling performances.
