Galle Gallants outwitted Jaffna Kings by five wickets to lift their maiden Lanka Premier League trophy at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday night, becoming the third team to win the tournament besides Kandy and Jaffna.

Gallants romped to meagre 124 run target with 25 balls to spare and skipper Dasun Shanaka ending the game with a four and a six. After being asked to bowl, it was the outrageous effort from player of the match Charith Asalanka with the ball that gave Gallants an easy ticket to the win.

Asalanka dismissed Khawaja Nafay in fifth over, Bhanuka Rajapaksa in ninth and Dunith Wellalage in 11th and did not let the Jaffna innings take off. Eshan Malinga also picked up three wickets which came in 13th, 17 and 19th over.

Tharindu Ratnayake drew the first blood for Galle Gallants in the fourth over as he removed Avishka Fernando for 20 off 16 as he looked set for big score having struck two fours and a six.

Kamil Mishara’s lone effort of 41 from 32 including five fours stretched to 13th over before he became Malinga’s prey, while Jaffna were reduced to 87 for six with his departure.

In the 6.3 overs, Kings only managed to add 36 runs to their total and that too was possible due to Chamindu Wickramsinghe’s two fours and a six in a 16-ball 24.

Ratnayake wrapped up the Kings’ innings by removing Zahoor Khan. Akif Javed picked up one wicket while Sachindu Colombage accounted for the dangerous Towhid Hridoy.

In turn, Gallants got off to a rusty start losing the tournament’s second leading run scorer Sam Harper for one to Mohammad Shiraz in first over and Asalanka to emerging player of the tournament Traveen Mathew in the second.

Thomas Roger (34 off 27, 5 fours) and Dinura Kalupahana (31 off 19, 6 fours) then stitched a match winning stand of 64 runs for the third wicket before Shakib struck twice in 9th over.

At 75 for four in nine overs, Gallants needed a mere 4.45 runs an over to seal the game and they got there with Sahan Arachchige (14 not out off, 19, 1 four) partnering Chamika Karunaratne for a 28 run stand and Shanaka for a 15 ball 23 run stand.

Shanaka remained unbeaten on 20 off nine hitting two fours and the winning six.

Charith Asalanka was Player of the Match. This time more than his batting, his bowling won the team the final as he claimed three wickets.

Brief Scores

Galle Gallants won by five wickets

Jaffna Kings 123/10

(19.3) (Kamil Mishara 41, Chamindu Wickramsinghe 24, Avishka Fernando 20; Charith Asalanka 3/20, Eshan Malinga 3/25, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/14).

Galle Gallants 126/5 (15.5)

(Thomas Rogers 34, Dinura Kalupahana 31, Dasun Shanaka 20*, Shakib Al Hasan 2/15, Traveen Mathew 2/15).

Player of the match –

Charith Asalanka

Player of the tournament –

Kamil Mishara

Emerging player of the tournament –

Traveen Mathew

Best show of sportsmanship award –

Sam Harper

Longest six of the final match:

Chamindu Wickramasinghe

Power Hitter –

Dinura Kalupahana

Most dots in the final match –

Shakib al Hasan

Game Changer of the final match –

Eshan Malinga

Young player of the tournament –

Eshan Malinga