Lahiru Udara struck an unbeaten 132 to carry Kandy Royals past Galle Gallants by six wickets in the 16th match of the Lanka Premier League at Pallekele on Wednesday, chasing down 209 with seven balls to spare.
The wicketkeeper-batter faced 63 deliveries for his maiden Twenty20 hundred, reaching three figures off 54 balls and finishing with 15 fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 209.52. He sealed the win with a flat six over long-on and was named Player of the Match.
Udara set the tone immediately, taking three boundaries off the opening over. His opening stand with Pawan Sandesh was worth 103 before Sandesh fell for 23 in the eighth over, and the Royals were never behind the rate thereafter.
Galle Gallants had posted 208 for three from their 20 overs, a total built on two rapid innings. Sam Harper made 72 from 38 balls with seven fours and three sixes before falling lbw to Zahir Khan, and Charith Asalanka finished unbeaten on 70 from just 32 deliveries, striking seven fours and four sixes. Nurul Hasan contributed 33 and captain Dasun Shanaka 16. Zahir Khan was the pick of the Kandy bowlers with two wickets.
The chase wobbled briefly in the middle overs. Sachindu Colombage took three of the four wickets to fall — Sandesh, then Moeen Ali for seven and Dale Phillips for a duck — while Wanindu Hasaranga was caught off Malinga for 16, and Kandy slipped from 103 without loss to 137 for four. Captain Angelo Mathews retired hurt on 14 with the score at 185.
Udara held firm through all of it, and Vijay Shankar was alongside him on seven when the Royals reached 214 for four in 18.5 overs.
The result dented the Gallants at the top of the table and kept Kandy Royals in contention as the tournament moves toward its playoff phase.