Dambulla quicks Vishwa, Asitha bundle Jaffna out for 62

Dambulla quicks Asitha Fernando (left) and Vishwa Fernando demolished Jaffna’s batting for 62

Udayawansha Parakrama and Sandun Weerakkody figured in a 77-run partnership for Kandy

Kandy’s Ahan Wickramasinghe gets runs on the offside during his knock of 62

Losing finalists Jaffna making their first appearance in this year’s National Super League 4-day tournament were bundled out for a paltry 62 by Sri Lankan quicks Vishwa Fernando (5/14) and Asitha Fernando (4/24) after being put into bat first by Dambulla on a grassy SSC pitch where the ball seamed all day. Only three batsmen entered double figures while three others were dismissed without scoring.

Dambulla in their turn recovered from a shock start losing half the side for 50 to end the opening day on a healthy note at 170-6, a lead of 108, thanks largely to skipper Minod Bhanuka’s unbeaten innings of 64 off 93 balls (7 fours) and his partnership of 112 for the sixth wicket with Ranitha Liyanarachchi who was out shortly before the close for a well compiled 51 off 73 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes).

Yasiru Rodrigo, the former Sri Lanka Under 19 left-arm seamer caused shock waves in the Dambulla top order batting by grabbing three quick wickets, to finish the day with figures of 3 for 39.

Half-centuries from Sandun Weerakkody and Ahan Wickramasinghe saw Kandy invited to bat first, score 290 against Galle at the P Sara Oval. Wicketkeeper/opening bat Udayawansha Parakrama who scored a steady 49 off 81 balls (7 fours) helped Weerakkody add 77 for the second wicket. Weerakkody went on to score a rapid 76 off 82 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes). Following his departure Wickramasinghe hit an attractive 62 off 60 balls (2 fours, 5 sixes) before being fifth out at 245. Right-arm fast-medium bowler Asanka Manoj was the pick of the Galle bowlers with four wickets for 31 runs. Galle closed the day at 53-1, to trail Kandy by 237 runs.

The matches will continue on their second day today.

Day one scores

• +At SSC: Jaffna 62 (Kasun Abeyratne 16, Asitha Fernando 4/24, Vishwa Fernando 5/14)

• Dambulla 170-6 at close (Minod Bhanuka 64*, Ranitha Liyanarachchi 51, Yasiru Rodrigo 3/39)  

• +At P Sara Oval: Kandy 290 (Udayawansha Parakrama 49, Sandun Weerakkody 76, Ahan Wickramasinghe 62, Movin Subasinghe 30, Kavishka Anjula 2/56, Asanka Manoj 4/31, Ramesh Mendis 2/63)

• Galle 53-1 at close (Sangeeth Cooray 27*, Lakshan Edirisinghe 24*)