Dropping Sahan Arachchige multiple times proved costly for the Jaffna Kings in their Lanka Premier League fixture against Galle Gallants at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Thursday, July 23.
Jaffna had the game under control bowling first, but a comedy of errors in the 17th and 18th overs cost them the match. Starting from the last delivery of the 17th over, the Kings dropped Arachchige three times in four deliveries and ended up conceding 61 runs in the last three overs.
It started with Shakib Al Hasan, who dropped a sitter at short fine leg on the last delivery of the 17th over. In the next over, Arachchige was then dropped on the second and third balls. For the first of those instances, Dunith Wellalage was the culprit as he couldn't get hand on the ball at deep midwicket to concede four runs. Wellalage later dropped Mohammad Nawaz in the same over as well.
On the very next ball, Arachchige got a reprieve again as David Wiese lost the ball this time under the lights at long on, and the ball went for a four again. Traveen Mathew was the bowler who had to bear the brunt of those drops as Arachchige and Nawaz took him for 34 runs in that over.
The Sri Lanka international was finally dismissed on the final ball of the innings but not before he scored 63 runs off 36 balls with four fours and three sixes. He was dropped on 36 twice and then again on 40 and he made the most of those drops. His knock helped Galle Gallants score 193 and eventually win by 60 runs.
Also read: Lanka Premier League 2026: Full list of squads and team captains for LPL
Jaffna Kings batters succumb to pressure in run-chase
Jaffna Kings never got going in the chase as they were reduced to 33/4 within four overs. Dunith Wellalage, batting at number seven, slammed 56 runs off 39 balls with four fours and four sixes, but was one of the only two batters to cross the 20-run mark, with David Wiese (22) being the other.
Eshan Malinga and Tharindu Ratnayake picked up three wickets each for Galle Gallants to make sure the Kings were skittled out for just 133 in the 18th over of the innings.
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