DDS (134), Pavan (151) pull chestnuts out of fire for Dambulla

Saturday, 29 March 2025 01:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kandy opener Janishka Perera missed out on century in successive matches

Jaffna spinner Tharindu Rathnayake with the ball he took five Kandy wickets

Dhananjaya de Silva and Pavan Rathnayake during their double century stand for Dambulla

Kandy takes upper hand against Jaffna
4th National Super League tournament

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Pavan Rathnayake struck brilliant centuries to help Dambulla recover from a bad start and gain a first innings lead over Colombo on the second day of their National Super League match played at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday.

De Silva, the national Test Team Captain and Rathnayake, the 22-year-old skilful right-hander from the same club CCC as his leader, featured in a fourth wicket partnership of 263 after Dambulla had lost their top three batters Nishan Madushka (7), Lasith Croospulle (11) and Ron Chandraguptha (13) – all 3 in the running for the Test opener’s berth created by the retirement of Dimuth Karunaratne, cheaply for 35.

De Silva and Rathnayake were so dominant that Colombo were simply running out of ideas to break the stand. But it came about in the most unlikely manner when De Silva was forced to retire hurt with cramps at 134 (186 balls, 12 fours, 1 six) – his second century in the tournament. He is expected to resume his innings sometime today.

Colombo grabbed a fourth wicket that of Sonal Dinusha for 19 so that Dambulla ended the day at 341-4 in reply to Colombo’s first innings of 300 – a lead of 41.

Moors SC’s prolific opener Janishka Perera missed out on a century for the second time in successive matches when he was dismissed for 97 in Kandy’s first innings total of 332 replying to Jaffna’s 201 at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium.

Last weekend Perera was out for 93 against Colombo. Yesterday he struck 12 fours in his 137-ball innings. No other batsmen scored a fifty but there were useful contributions down the order that helped Kandy gain a useful first innings lead of 131.

Ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake was the pick of the Jaffna bowlers ending with 5/99 – his 26th first-class five-fer in an innings. Jaffna scored 31-1 in their second innings to trail Kandy by 100 runs.

Both matches will continue on their third day today.

Day 2 scores

At Dambulla: Colombo 300 (o/n 300-9) (Asitha Wanninayake 38, Charith Asalanka 43, Kusal Mendis 119, Lahiru Madushanka 43, Mohamed Shiraz 2/48, Dulaj Samuditha 3/70, Akila Dananjaya 3/91)

Dambulla 341-4 at close (Dhananjaya de Silva 134 rtd ht, Pavan Rathnayake 151*, Pramod Madushan 2/78)

At R. Premadasa Stadium: Jaffna 201 and 31-1 at close (Shevon Daniel 23)

Kandy 332 (o/n 67-1) (Janishka Perera 97, Kamil Mishara 27, Sahan Arachchige 45, Sohan de Livera 25, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 44, Shiran Fernando 38, Asanka Manoj 3/64, Tharindu Rathnayake 5/99, Janith Liyanage 2/27)

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