Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday, 11 March 2022 02:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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| Oshada Fernando drives during his innings of 105 for Kandy against Colombo at the R. Premadasa Stadium |
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| Nimesha Gunasinghe of Dambulla scored his maiden first-class 100 against Galle |
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| Dambulla captain Minod Bhanuka was unbeaten on 140 at the end of the first day against Galle
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The top of the table clash between Kandy and Colombo was evenly poised at the end of day one of the National Super League four-day tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Table leaders Kandy, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first were dismissed for 241 despite a feisty century from Test batsman Oshada Fernando. By stumps, Kandy had somewhat hit back by capturing four Colombo wickets for 28 runs.
Colombo trailed Kandy by 213 runs in the first innings. With Fernando continuing his fine form in the tournament by scoring his second hundred, 105 off 154 balls (15 fours, 1 six). Kandy looked in good nick at 162-3 to run up a formidable total as they had done in their previous two matches.
However, the loss of Fernando’s wicket at that stage, bowled by former Sri Lankan seamer Kasun Rajitha, saw the rest of the batting simply crumble to the spin of Lakshitha Manasinghe and Prabath Jayasuriya who shared six wickets between them. Kasun Vidura tried to hold the innings together with a sprightly 43 off 52 balls but found no one to stay long enough to build a partnership of substance.
Colombo was rocked by the pace of Sri Lankan quick Asitha Fernando who in his opening spell of six overs picked up two wickets for 12 runs including that of Colombo skipper Sammu Ashan for three as they struggled to see the day through.
In the bottom of the table clash between Dambulla and Galle at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, Dambulla boosted by centuries from Nimesha Gunasinghe and skipper and national cap Minod Bhanuka, ran up a first-day total of 332-5 after electing to bat first.
The pair put on a partnership of 194 for the fourth wicket with Gunasinghe scoring his maiden first-class hundred, 103 off 221 balls (5 fours) in a display of solid defence, while Bhanuka scored freely from the other end striking 17 fours in his 173-ball knock for an unbeaten 140, his 12 first-class century. Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananajaya had figures of three for 74 at the end of the day. Both matches will continue on the second day today.
Day one scores:
At R. Premadasa Stadium: Kandy 241 (Oshada Fernando 105, Kamindu Mendis 26, Kasun Vidura 43, Kasun Rajitha 2/43, Nisala Tharaka 2/61, Lakshitha Manasinghe 3/59, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/47)
Colombo 28-4 at close (Asitha Fernando 2/12).
At Dambulla: Dambulla 332-5 at close (Nimesha Gunasinghe 103, Pawantha Weerasinghe 29, Minod Bhanuka 140*, Akila Dananjaya 3/74) v Galle.
