Kandy Royals secured their first victory of the Lanka Premier League 2026 with a comfortable win over Dambulla Sixers in the sixth match of the tournament played today (21st July) at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
Having suffered defeats in their opening two matches, the Royals produced a complete all-round performance to open their account in the tournament.
Asked to bat first, Kandy Royals posted an imposing 194 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to another impressive knock from Lahiru Udara, who continued his rich vein of form with his second successive half-century.
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Udara struck 51 off 34 deliveries, laced with five fours and two sixes, laying a solid platform for the Royals. He was well supported by skipper Angelo Mathews and Wanindu Hasaranga, who both played entertaining cameos of 29 runs to propel the total close to the 200-run mark.
For Dambulla Sixers, left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was the standout bowler, returning figures of 2 for 20 from his four overs.
Chasing 195 for victory, Dambulla Sixers got off to an explosive start through opener Sahibzada Farhan, who launched a fearless counterattack. The Pakistan batter smashed 74 runs off just 45 deliveries, striking seven boundaries and four sixes to keep his side in the hunt.
However, once Farhan departed, the Sixers struggled to maintain the required scoring rate as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Nuwan Thushara was the standout performer with the ball for Kandy Royals, producing a remarkable comeback after conceding 18 runs in his opening over. The pacer bounced back brilliantly to finish with figures of 4 for 29 from his four-over spell.
Thushara’s spell, supported by disciplined bowling from the rest of the attack, restricted Dambulla Sixers to 151 for 8 in their 20 overs, sealing a convincing 43-run victory for Kandy Royals.
Brief Scores
Kandy Royals – 194/6 (20) Lahiru Udara 51, Wanindu Hasaranga 29, Angelo Mathews 29*, Kusal Perera 25, Moeen Ali 24, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/20
Dambulla Sixers – 151/8 (20) Sahibzada Farhan 74, Reeza Hendricks 27, Niroshan Dickwella 26, Nuwan Thushara 4/29, Dushan Hemantha 2/23
Result – Kandy Royals won by 43 runs
 at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.){kind=link}