Ripon Mondol goes wicketless on LPL debut as Colombo Kaps fall short

Match Overview: Galle Gallants Secure 14-Run Victory

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) witnessed another high-scoring clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, but it turned out to be a tough day on the field for Bangladesh pacer Ripon Mondol. Making his tournament debut for Colombo Kaps, the young bowler experienced a difficult outing with the ball, conceding runs in both of his overs. In the end, Ripon Mondol goes wicketless on LPL debut as Colombo Kaps fall short by 14 runs in their ambitious chase of 202 against Galle Gallants.

Galle Gallants Set the Tone with the Bat

After winning the toss, Colombo Kaps captain Kamindu Mendis opted to field first, hoping to restrict Galle Gallants on a favorable Pallekele surface. Colombo got an early breakthrough when spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed opener Thomas Rogers in the very first over of the innings. However, that early success was quickly overshadowed by a strong recovery from Galle’s top and middle order.

Explosive Powerplay by Galle

Following the early wicket, Sam Harper joined Charith Asalanka to steady the Galle innings. Harper was aggressive from the start, blasting 28 runs off 16 deliveries before being dismissed with the total at 49. Asalanka anchored the innings brilliantly, ensuring Galle made complete use of the fielding restrictions. By the end of the six-over Powerplay, Galle Gallants had raced to 71 for 2, laying a solid foundation for a formidable total.

Asalanka and Arachchige Build the Total

While wickets fell around him—with Dinura Kalupahana making 20 from 21 balls and Chamika Karunaratne restricted to just 2 runs—Asalanka kept the scoreboard moving with composure. The left-hander brought up a fine half-century, scoring 58 off 37 balls before falling in the final over. Sahan Arachchige provided vital acceleration in the middle and death overs, smashing a crisp 43 off 29 balls to keep Galle on course for a massive total.

Ripon Mondol’s Difficult Debut Spell

Colombo Kaps handed an LPL debut to Bangladeshi fast bowler Ripon Mondol, but the youngster found it challenging to stem the run flow. Introduced into the attack in the second over of the match, Mondol was put under immediate pressure by the Galle batters, conceding 17 runs in his opening over.

Mondol returned to bowl his second spell in the 13th over of the innings. Unfortunately, the outcome was similar, as he yielded another 17 runs without claiming a wicket. He finished his two-over spell with figures of 0 for 34. Galle capitalized on the closing overs as Dasun Shanaka produced a rapid cameo of 21 not out off 8 balls, supported by Mohammad Nawaz with 7 not out off 4 balls, pushing Galle Gallants to 201 for 6 in their 20 overs. For Colombo, Wanuja Sahan was the standout bowler, finishing with two wickets.

Colombo Kaps Chase: Highs, Lows, and Late Drama

Chasing a steep target of 202 for victory, Colombo Kaps started their response with intent. Although opener Rubin Hermann departed early for 5 with 17 runs on the board, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Ben McDermott launched a fiery counter-attack.

Powerplay Momentum and Sudden Collapse

Samarawickrama attacked the opposition bowling, scoring 37 off just 19 deliveries, while McDermott contributed 38 off 28 balls. Their aggressive partnership propelled Colombo to 62 for 1 after the Powerplay, keeping them well on pace with the required run rate.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically right after the Powerplay. Samarawickrama fell for 37, and Colombo’s middle order stumbled under mounting pressure. Captain Kamindu Mendis was removed for just 1, while Ashen Bandara managed only 3 runs. Jimmy Neesham tried to revive the chase with a quickfire 20 off 15 balls, but the required run rate continued to rise.

Tharupathi’s Fireworks Give Colombo Hope

With the match slipping out of reach, Malsha Tharupathi produced a stunning late assault to reignite Colombo’s hopes. Tharupathi smashed 36 runs off just 15 deliveries, clearing the boundaries to bring Colombo back into contention. Heading into the final two overs, Colombo required 29 runs for victory.

The Final Overs Seal Victory for Galle

The 19th over proved decisive for Galle as they conceded only nine runs while dismissing Milan Rathnayake, who scored 21 off 19 balls. Needing 20 runs from the final over, Colombo could not pull off the miracle. They managed only five more runs before being bowled out for 188 in 19.4 overs, falling short by 14 runs. Ripon Mondol remained unbeaten at the non-striker’s end on 5 off 4 balls when the final wicket fell.

Bowling Stars and Key Highlights

Mohammad Nawaz was the star performer with the ball for Galle Gallants, taking three crucial wickets to dismantle Colombo’s momentum. He received excellent support from Akif Javed and Eshan Malinga, who picked up two wickets each. Despite a valiant late effort in the chase, Colombo Kaps fell short, while Ripon Mondol will look forward to a better performance in his next LPL match.