Wanindu Hasaranga’s decision to refuse a perfectly legal run out cost Kandy Royals the Lanka Premier League game against Jaffna Kings.
In the seventh over of the Jaffna innings, Kamil Mishara hit a delivery from Hasaranga straight down the ground, only for the ball to hit Avishka Fernando’s bat and deflect towards the bowler. The Sri Lanka all-rounder, also the Royals skipper, picked up the ball and ran Fernando out at the non-striker’s end.
However, he later decided to withdraw his appeal and called back the batter, who was then batting on 46 off 24. The opening partnership was 66-run strong at the time, but the duo eventually went on to add 129 runs together. Avishka, notably, finished with a 36-ball 66, taking the game away from Kandy.
Russell Arnold, on commentary, termed the gesture as "great sportsmanship," but a wicket then, and a perfectly legal one, would have helped Kandy Royals regain some control of the game. Jaffna posted a 199-4 on the back of the back of a huge opening stand, and Kandy fell well short of the target.
Kandy Royals succumb to fourth loss of LPL 2026
Kandy Royals slipped to the bottom of the points table of LPL 2026 after losing the game by 93 runs. They were skittled for just 106 runs, and only two of their batters, Lahiru Udara (54) and Shaheen Afridi (22), reached double figures. This was their fourth loss in six matches, which has also affected their chance of going through to the knockouts.
Meanwhile, the Jaffna Kings put up a brilliant show with the ball after dominating with the bat earlier. Mohamed Shiraz and Dunith Wellalage accounted for three wickets each as they ran through the opposition batting line-up.
Image Credits: Lanka Premier League
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