Colombo at receiving end of Kamil Mishara’s broad bat

Friday, 21 March 2025 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kandy’s Kamil Mishara scored back to back hundreds with 172 against Colombo

Kamil Mishara and Kandy captain Sahan Arachchige figured in a stand of 128

4th National Super League 4-day tournament

Galle falls prey to the wiles of Akila Dananjaya

Dambulla’s Akila Dananjaya is all smiles after taking seven Galle wickets

Oshada Fernando celebrating his century for Galle

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Kamil Mishara improved on his career best score of 158* he scored for Kandy against Galle in the opening match of the National Super League 4-day tournament last weekend with another accomplished knock of 172 that has put his team in a strong position at the end of the first day of their match against Colombo at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota yesterday.

The immensely talented 23-year-old left-hander whose entry into the national side has been delayed by disciplinary issues that he underwent with the Sri Lanka U19 team in 2019 and as a member of the national team on their tour of Bangladesh in 2022 continued where he left off from last weekend to hit 18 fours and 2 sixes in his 217-ball innings as Kandy ended the day on 382-5.

Playing in the position of one drop batter Mishara has virtually played the role of opener with Pathum Nissanka once again being dismissed early for a second-ball duck after Kandy had decided to bat first.

Mishara figured in three productive partnerships of 107 for the second wicket with Janishka Perera (48), 96 for the third with Nuwanidu Fernando (45) and 128 for the fourth with skipper Sahan Arachchige (68 off 125 balls, 5 fours, 1 six). Colombo used 8 bowlers of which 3 were successful with one wicket falling to a run out. Kandy has been maintaining an excellent run rate of 4.24 an over and once they cross the 400-run mark with that rate they will pick up a batting bonus point.

Meanwhile, in the other game at the Galle Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya took 7/83 for Dambulla to bowl out defending champions Galle for 267 on the opening day.

It was a sensational batting collapse by Galle who had opted to bat first after winning the toss. At one point they reached a healthy 207-3 courtesy of a 154-run second wicket stand between Oshada Fernando (100 off 163 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Dinesh Chandimal (73 off 124 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes). The fall of Chandimal to Dananjaya opened the floodgates as the rest of the batting simply folded up for the addition of only 60 runs. There was hardly any resistance forthcoming from the remaining batters as Dananjaya waded through, bowling unchanged 19 overs in his second spell taking 7/35. Dambulla made 38 without loss by stumps with Lasith Croospulle forced to retire hurt at 11 after being hit on the helmet attempting a pull shot to a ball from Milan Rathnayake.

Both matches continue on their second day today.

Day 1 scores:

At Hambantota: Kandy 328-5 at close (Janishka Perera 48, Kamil Mishara 172, Nuwanidu Fernando 45, Sahan Arachchige 68, D Hemantha 2/62) v Colombo
At Galle: Galle 267 (Oshada Fernando 100, Dinesh Chandimal 73, Avishka Perera 29, Asitha Fernando 2/37, Akila Dananjaya 7/83) Dambulla 38 for no loss at close.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.