Galle Gallants have a second opportunity to reach the LPL 2026 final after suffering a 12-run defeat to Jaffna Kings in Qualifier 1. Colombo Kaps, meanwhile, booked their place in Qualifier 2 with a commanding 68-run victory over Kandy Royals in the Eliminator.
Galle have enjoyed the upper hand in this season’s rivalry, winning both league-stage meetings against Colombo, but the Kaps head into this contest with renewed confidence after an impressive knockout performance.
This preview covers both squads, the pitch conditions at the R. Premadasa Stadium, and our prediction for LPL 2026 Qualifier 2.
Galle Gallants vs Colombo Kaps Qualifier 2 – Match Details
The winner of Qualifier 2 joins Jaffna Kings in Saturday’s final, while the loser is eliminated from the tournament.
| Match | Qualifier 2, Galle Gallants vs Colombo Kaps |
| Tournament | Lanka Premier League 2026 (LPL Season 6) |
| Date | Friday, 7 August 2026 |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Start Time | 7:30 PM IST |
Winning Odds for GG vs CKP Qualifier 2
| Platform | GG Win Odds | CKP Win Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.78 | 2.35 |
| 4rabet | 1.82 | 2.38 |
| BetVibe | 1.74 | 2.27 |
| Stake | 1.89 | 2.45 |
Galle Gallants & Colombo Kaps Squads for LPL 2026
Galle Gallants will be aiming to bounce back after their defeat to Jaffna Kings in Qualifier 1. Captain Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka and Mohammad Nawaz remain key figures as they look to book a place in the final.
Colombo Kaps, meanwhile, enter Qualifier 2 on the back of a convincing 68-run win over Kandy Royals in the Eliminator. Led by Kamindu Mendis, the Kaps will rely on the likes of Ben McDermott, Janith Liyanage and Wanuja Sahan to continue their impressive run in the knockout stage.
Galle Gallants
Dasun Shanaka (c), Lasith Croospulle, Haider Ali, Sam Harper, Nurul Hasan, Chris Lynn, Sahan Arachchige, Charith Asalanka, Dinura Kalupahana, Chamika Karunaratne, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Nawaz, Tharindu Ratnayake, Akif Javed, Sachindu Colombage, Yuri Koththigoda, Eshan Malinga, Pramod Madushan, Kasun Rajitha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Virandeep Singh.
Colombo Kaps
Kamindu Mendis (c), Rubin Hermann, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ben McDermott, Ashen Bandara, James Neesham, Janith Liyanage, Malsha Tharupathi, Milan Rathnayake, Wanuja Sahan, Ripon Mondol, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Binura Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kushal Bhurtel, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani, Movin Subasingha, Thanuka Dabare, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Arul Pragasam.
Galle Gallants vs Colombo Kaps Qualifier 2 – Pitch & Weather Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium has stayed true to its reputation as a balanced surface through the playoffs so far, with 470 runs produced across the two innings of Qualifier 1 showing the ground can also turn into a genuine batting paradise under the right conditions.
Pitch Report
| Pitch Behaviour | The surface at the Premadasa offers seam movement early, before settling down and rewarding strokeplay, with turn on offer for spinners as the pitch grips more late in the innings. |
| Batting Conditions | The average first-innings score in T20 cricket at this venue sits in the 140 to 150 range, though Qualifier 1 showed the ceiling is far higher when batters get on top. |
| Bowling Assistance | Spinners tend to control the middle overs, while the new ball has offered results for disciplined seam bowling at the death, as Galle Gallants showed in both wins over Colombo Kaps this season. |
| Toss & Dew Factor | This is a day/night match, and dew has historically favoured the side chasing under lights at this venue. |
Weather Report
| Temperature | A high of around 29°C, with overnight lows staying humid at close to 27°C. |
| Weather | Rain is a real threat, with heavier showers expected than in the earlier playoff matches this week. |
| Precipitation | An 80% chance of rain, meaning a genuine risk of a rain-affected or shortened contest. |
| Humidity & Wind | High humidity typical of coastal Colombo, with only light wind expected. |
Galle Gallants vs Colombo Kaps – Head-to-Head in LPL History
Colombo Kaps (formerly Colombo Strikers/Stars) hold a slight edge in this rivalry despite Galle Gallants completing a league double over them during the 2026 season.
The two teams have faced each other 10 times in Lanka Premier League history, with Colombo Kaps winning six matches and Galle Gallants claiming four victories.
| Matches | Galle Gallants Won | Colombo Kaps Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
Galle Gallants won both league-stage meetings in LPL 2026, chasing down 190 with a five-wicket victory on 18 July before defending 201 to seal a 13-run win on 1 August. However, Colombo Kaps still lead the overall head-to-head record thanks to their dominance in previous editions of the tournament.
Players to Watch for Galle Gallants vs Colombo Kaps Qualifier 2
- Charith Asalanka (GAG) — His 58 in Qualifier 1 kept Galle Gallants in the hunt until the closing overs, and a similar innings here would go a long way toward booking a final berth.
- Dasun Shanaka (GAG) — The Galle Gallants captain has twice found a way to trouble Colombo Kaps this season and will look to marshal a bowling attack that has had the better of this exact opponent.
- Mohammad Nawaz (GAG) — His spin was the difference in the August 1 win over Colombo Kaps, and containing the Kaps middle order again would be central to a repeat result.
- Kamindu Mendis (CLK) — Promoted to captain after Kusal Mendis’s injury, Mendis has led Colombo Kaps to their most complete performance of the season in the Eliminator.
- Ben McDermott (CLK) — The Australian’s form at the top of the order was central to the platform Colombo Kaps built in their Eliminator win, and they will need something similar here.
- Wanuja Sahan (CLK) — Player of the match in the Eliminator, Sahan gives Colombo Kaps a bowling option in form at exactly the right time of the tournament.
Winner Prediction
Galle Gallants have won both meetings with Colombo Kaps this season and arrive with more recent experience of high-pressure knockout cricket, having taken Jaffna Kings to the final over in Qualifier 1.
Colombo Kaps counter with the emphatic momentum of their Eliminator win and a captain in Kamindu Mendis who has grown into the role at the right time. Galle Gallants are the narrow favourites on the back of their season sweep of this exact opponent, but heavy rain is the biggest threat to a result either side can control.
