Sri Lankan all-rounder Tharindu Ratnayake (also spelled Rathnayake) was named Player of the Match in the 16th match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 after scoring an unbeaten 22 off 12 balls and taking a wicket in Sudurpaschim Royals' 39-run win over Karnali Yaks at Kirtipur on Friday.

Player of the Match: Tharindu Ratnayake

Ratnayake came into the XI in place of Sherfane Rutherford. The left-hander walked in with Sudurpaschim at 143/5 after 17.2 overs, and the Royals added 33 runs in their last 16 balls to reach 176/6. Ratnayake finished unbeaten with three fours and a six.

With the ball, he struck early in Karnali's chase, when the Yaks had already slipped to 46/4. Karnali never recovered from a powerplay in which they lost three wickets for 35, and they were held to 137 in reply to 177.

Ratnayake is a 30-year-old left-handed batter who bowls both right-arm off-spin and left-arm spin. He has played four T20 internationals for Sri Lanka. Read about his signing for Sudurpaschim Royals.

Player of the Match Awards in NPL 2026

• Match 1: Sher Malla, Lumbini Lions beat Sudurpaschim Royals
• Match 2: Kamal Airee, Chitwan Rhinos vs Biratnagar Kings
• Match 4: Dipendra Singh Airee, Sudurpaschim Royals vs Pokhara Avengers
• Match 5: Rahul Yadav, Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gorkhas
• Match 6: Sompal Kami, Karnali Yaks vs Biratnagar Kings
• Match 9: Trit Raj Das, Janakpur Bolts vs Pokhara Avengers
• Match 12: Andre Russell, Biratnagar Kings vs Janakpur Bolts
• Match 16: Tharindu Ratnayake, Sudurpaschim Royals vs Karnali Yaks

Read the full match report, the live scorecard and the latest NPL 2026 points table.