Dambulla, Kandy win in final day of NSL 50-over league games

• Dickwella returns to form with century

In the final set of matches of the National Super League 50-over round robin league Dambulla and Kandy emerged winners under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) method with rain interrupting proceedings and curtailing play yesterday.

In a dress rehearsal for Thursday’s final Dambulla beat Jaffna by 34 runs at the P. Sara Oval. In their first round robin league meeting of the tournament Dambulla beat Jaffna by 84 runs also on the DLS method defending a moderate total of 233. Yesterday Jaffna failed to defend a similar total in the return league match as Dambulla powered by Pavan Ratnayake’s 102-ball century (107*, with 13 fours, 2 sixes) scored 186-4 off 37 overs which was sufficient to see them across the line. Ratnayake was assisted in an 82-run stand for the fifth wicket by Sonal Dinusha (38).

Earlier, former Maris Stella, Negombo all-rounder Ravindu Fernando scored his maiden century in limited-over cricket – 100 off 89 balls (11 fours, 5 sixes) to rescue Jaffna from total disaster. Invited to bat first Jaffna were reeling at 89-7 when Fernando sized-up the situation and took the game into his hands to add 144 for the last three wickets that enabled Jaffna to total a respectable 233. He figured in partnerships of 59 with Dilum Sudeera (16) and 68 with Jeffrey Vandersay (18) before becoming the last batsman to be dismissed. Jaffna were troubled by seamers Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep and Lahiru Samarakoon who took eight wickets amongst them.

Sri Lanka wicket-keeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella having lost his Test place during the New Zealand series returned to form with a superbly struck 103 off 81 balls (12 fours, 4 sixes) to lead Kandy’s successful run chase against Colombo at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Dickwella shared partnerships of 77 and 61 with Sandun Weerakkody (32) and Lahiru Udara (53*) respectively. Udara was involved in an unbroken stand of 67 with Ahan Wickramasinghe (26*) when rain ended play with Kandy on 244-4.

Ashen Bandara who missed out on a hundred by one run and captain Nipun Dananjaya figured in a face-saving partnership of 114 for the fifth wicket to steer Colombo to a challenging total of 271-7. Choosing to bat first Colombo were tottering at 98-4 when Bandara – 99 off 98 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes) and Dananjaya – 62 off 78 balls (3 fours, 1 six) came to their team’s rescue. (ST)

Results

• At P. Sara Oval: Dambulla beat Jaffna by 34 runs (DLS method)
• Jaffna 233 (46.2) (Nishan Madushka 20, Ravindu Fernando 100, Asitha Fernando 3/31, Nuwan Thushara 2/41, Lahiru Samarakoon 3/41, Dushan Hemantha 2/43)
• Dambulla 186-4 (37) (Pavan Ratnayake 107*, Sonal Dinusha 38) 
• At R. Premadasa Stadium: Kandy beat Colombo by 48 runs (DLS method)
• Colombo 271-7 (50) (Dushan Vimukthi 31, Ashen Bandara 99, Nipun Dananjaya 62, Nipun Ransika 3/32, Amshi de Silva 2/59)
• Kandy 244-4 (40.3) (Niroshan Dickwella 103, Sandun Weerakkody 32, Lahiru Udara 53*, Ahan Wickramasinghe 26*, Udith Madushan 2/27)