Captains to the fore on opening day of NSL 4-day tournament

Jaffna captain Dhananjaya de Silva scored 113 against Kandy

Dambulla captain Kamindu Mendis scored 115 against Colombo 

Captains took centre stage on the opening day of the National Super League 4-day tournament yesterday.

At the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, Jaffna skipper Dhananjaya de Silva warmed up for the one-off Test against Afghanistan next month with a perky century that saw his team end the day on 309-7 against Kandy, who decided to field first on winning the toss.

De Silva appointed the new Test captain of Sri Lanka from the Afghanistan Test, struck 13 fours in scoring 113 off 189 balls. He starred in two useful partnerships of 96 for the third wicket with Janith Liyanage (63 off 113 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) and 130 for the seventh wicket with Lahiru Madushanka (58* off 126 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) to see Jaffna to a respectable total after losing six wickets for 170.

At the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, captain of defending champions Dambulla, Kamindu Mendis struck a polished 115 (164 balls, 15 fours) to enable his team finish on 287-3 against Colombo.

Mendis and opening bat Leo Fransisco (87 off 182 balls, 11 fours) put together a second wicket stand of 194 after losing Minod Bhanuka for four. By the close former captain Angelo Mathews had also joined the run parade scoring an undefeated 47. Both matches will continue on their second day today. – (ST)   

DAY ONE SCORES

• At Hambantota: Jaffna 309-7 at close (Nishan Madushka 38, Janith Liyanage 63, Dhananjaya de Silva 113, Lahiru Madushanka 58*, Chamika Gunasekara 2/34, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/94, Ashian Daniel 2/64) v Kandy

nAt Pallekele: Dambulla 287-3 at close (Leo Fransisco 87, Kamindu Mendis 115, Angelo Mathews 47*, Pavan Ratnayake 31*) v Colombo