Hambantota Bangla Tigers, a team owned by Bangladeshi stakeholders, claimed their maiden Lanka T10 Super League title with an emphatic 26-run victory over Jaffna Titans in the final. Despite missing star all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain, Bangla Tigers were powered by key contributions from Sabbir Rahman and others to secure their triumph.

The final, held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, began with Jaffna Titans’ captain David Wiese winning the toss and opting to field. Bangla Tigers got off to a flying start, courtesy of a blazing knock by Mohammad Shahzad. The aggressive opener smashed 26 runs off just 11 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed.

Sabbir Rahman, stepping up in the absence of Mosaddek, kept the momentum alive with a brisk cameo. He struck two magnificent sixes in his 8-ball 16 before returning to the pavilion. Contributions from Dasun Shanaka (21 off 10 balls) and Shevon Daniel (26 off 15 balls) further bolstered the Tigers’ innings. The team eventually posted a formidable total of 133/7 in 10 overs.

The match witnessed a dramatic moment in the eighth over. After Shanaka’s dismissal, Isuru Udana delayed coming to the crease, leading to a potential "timed out" dismissal as per cricket rules. However, Jaffna captain David Wiese withdrew his appeal, allowing Udana to bat.

Chasing 134, Jaffna Titans failed to mount any serious challenge. Despite topping the league table, they struggled to keep up with the required run rate and lost wickets at regular intervals. Tom Abell was the lone warrior for Jaffna, remaining unbeaten with a scintillating 54 off 27 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes.

Bangla Tigers’ bowlers, led by Richard Gleeson (3 wickets) and Dasun Shanaka (2 wickets), maintained tight control, restricting Jaffna to a paltry score and ensuring an easy victory.

With this commanding win, Bangla Tigers Hambantota secured the inaugural Lanka T10 Super League title, leaving their mark in the tournament’s history.