Dambulla keeps title defence alive with win over Kandy

Sandun Weerakkody laid the platform for Jaffna’s successful run chase with a 35-ball 50

Pacies Vishwa Fernando and Mohamed Shiraz took six wickets between them for Dambulla

Dambulla kept alive their chances of defending the National Super League 50-over title when they defeated table toppers Kandy by three wickets in their match played at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota yesterday.

The win drew Dambulla level on four points with Kandy with a game in hand. As for Kandy, yesterday’s match was their last and they finished the standings with two wins and two losses from four matches. They will have to await the results of the remaining two matches on 6 March to find out their fate of a place in the final.

In the other match which ended yesterday Jaffna too kept their chances of entering the final afloat with a four-wicket win over Galle at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The win saw Jaffna tie on four points with Kandy and Dambulla with a game to play.

Dambulla’s win was fashioned out by fast bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Mohamed Shiraz who ripped through the top order to have Kandy struggling at 44-4. An 83-run stand between Sahan Arachchige (37) and acting captain Ahan Wickramasinghe (42) was broken by spinner Sonal Dinusha who trapped Wickramasinghe lbw. Fernando and Shiraz returned to clean up the innings for 201, each ending with three wickets. Dambulla also had a fight on their hands losing half the side for 128 before pulling through courtesy a 61-run partnership between Dinusha (44*) and Chamindu Wijesinghe (25).

The return of Galle’s captain Ramesh Mendis did not prove all that successful as Jaffna beat them by four wickets. Galle failed to defend their total of 288-7, when Jaffna led by their in-form acting captain Janith Liyanage knocked the runs off with nine balls to spare. Liyanage, the leading run getter in the tournament made his third score of over fifty in four innings when he smacked a stroke-filled 80 off 63 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) to ensure Jaffna got home comfortably. Sandun Weerakkody (50 off 35 balls, 10 fours) set the tone at the top which was followed by a run-a-ball 58 (7 fours, 1 six) from Nishan Madushka and a steady 44 from Nipun Karunanayake. Pathum Kumara (59 off 60 balls, 4 fours) and Dunith Wellalage (52 off 57 balls, 3 fours) put together a stand of 85 to take Galle to their final total after they were 142-5 in 29 overs. (ST)

RESULTS

At Hambantota: Dambulla beat Kandy by three wickets.

Kandy 201 (48.3) (Sahan Arachchige 37, Ahan Wickramasinghe 42, Chamika Karunaratne 24, Vishwa Fernando 3/36, Mohamed Shiraz 3/49)

Dambulla 204-7 (43) (Sanoj Darshika 48, Pavan Ratnayake 24, Ranesh Silva 25, Sonal Dinusha 44*, Chamindu Wijesinghe 25, Mithun Jayawickrama 2/32)

At R. Premadasa Stadium: Jaffna beat Galle by four wickets.

Galle 288-7 (50) (Shehan Fernando 45, Dhananjaya Lakshan 32, Pathum Kumara 59, Dunith Wellalage 52, Ramesh Mendis 29*, Ravindu Fernando 2/33)

Jaffna 289-6 (48.3) (Sandun Weerakkody 50, Nishan Madushka 58, Nipun Karunanayake 44, Janith Liyanage 80, Ron Chandraguptha 22*, Ramesh Mendis 2/47)