LPL, 11th Match,Jul 25 2026- Kandy Royals Defeat Galle Gallants by 11 Runs in Thrilling LPL 2026 Clash

Kandy Royals Recover to Post 165/6 in 1st Innings

Batting first, Kandy Royals suffered an early collapse as they lost three wickets inside the first five overs.

Early Trouble
Kusal Perera managed just 1 run
Sediqullah Atal was dismissed for a duck
Lahiru Udara scored 16 off 15 balls

The Royals found themselves struggling at 24/3, putting pressure on the middle order.

Moeen Ali and Dale Phillips Rebuild

The recovery began with Dale Phillips, who played an aggressive knock of 34 from 25 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.

He was well supported by Wanindu Hasaranga, who contributed 16 off 12 balls before falling to Vijayakanth Viyaskanth.

The innings was then stabilized by Moeen Ali, who top-scored with 41 runs from 29 balls, striking three boundaries and one six.

Mathews Finishes Strong

Veteran captain Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten on 28 off 22 balls, while Vijay Shankar added a useful 15 not out from 12 deliveries.

Their partnership guided Kandy Royals to a competitive total of 165/6 in 20 overs.

Best Bowlers for Galle Gallants

The Gallants shared wickets among their bowlers.

Pramod Madushan: 2/41
Akif Javed: 2/26
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth: 2/36
Galle Gallants Lose Early Wickets

Chasing 166, Galle Gallants never managed to build strong partnerships.

The top order struggled as:

Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 5
Dinura Kalupahana made 1
Sam Harper scored 14
Charith Asalanka managed 14

The Gallants slipped to 54/5, leaving the middle order with a mountain to climb.

Karunaratne and Shanaka Fight Back

All-rounder Chamika Karunaratne kept the chase alive with a fighting 52 off 35 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

Captain Dasun Shanaka then played a captain's innings, remaining unbeaten on 57 from 38 deliveries, smashing six boundaries and two sixes.

Despite their efforts, the required run rate continued to climb, and the Gallants eventually finished on 154/8, falling 11 runs short of the target.

Royals Bowlers Deliver Under Pressure

Kandy Royals' bowling attack maintained control during the chase with timely breakthroughs.

Nuwan Thushara Leads the Attack

Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara starred with:

3 wickets for 33 runs

He removed key batters at crucial moments.

Excellent Support from the Bowling Unit
Asitha Fernando: 2/33
Wanindu Hasaranga: 1/26
Moeen Ali: 1/11

Their disciplined spells prevented the Gallants from building momentum during the death overs.

Match Summary
Result Kandy Royals won by 11 runs
Kandy Royals 165/6 (20 overs)
Galle Gallants 154/8 (20 overs)
Top Scorer (Royals) Moeen Ali – 41 (29)
Top Scorer (Gallants) Dasun Shanaka – 57* (38)
Best Bowler Nuwan Thushara – 3/33
Key Performers
Kandy Royals
Moeen Ali: 41 (29)
Dale Phillips: 34 (25)
Angelo Mathews: 28* (22)
Nuwan Thushara: 3/33
Asitha Fernando: 2/33
Galle Gallants
Dasun Shanaka: 57* (38)
Chamika Karunaratne: 52 (35)
Akif Javed: 2/26
Pramod Madushan: 2/41
Turning Point of the Match

The decisive phase came during the first half of Galle Gallants' chase when Nuwan Thushara dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Dinura Kalupahana early, while the Royals' bowlers reduced the Gallants to 54/5. Although Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka mounted a spirited recovery, the required run rate had climbed too high, allowing Kandy Royals to defend their total successfully.

Conclusion

The Kandy Royals showed resilience with both bat and ball to secure an important 11-run victory over the Galle Gallants in the LPL 2026. A valuable middle-order effort from Moeen Ali, supported by Dale Phillips and Angelo Mathews, gave the Royals to reach a defendable total. The bowling unit, led by Nuwan Thushara's three wickets, ensured the Gallants' late fightback fell short.

Final Score
Kandy Royals: 165/6 (20 overs)
Galle Gallants: 154/8 (20 overs)

Result: Kandy Royals won by 11 runs, strengthening their position in the LPL 2026 standings.