High scoring Dambulla settle for first innings win

Despite compiling the highest total in the tournament defending champions Dambulla failed to gain full points in their National Super League 4-day tournament match against Jaffna which ended in a draw at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Dambulla used the first two days amassing 619-8 declared and dismissed Jaffna for 366 in the first innings to gain a lead of 253. But instead of enforcing the follow-on and pressing for an outright win Dambulla batted a second time and finished on 220-5 in their second innings as the match petered out into a tame draw.

Resuming at 274-8 Jaffna added a further 92 runs for their last two wickets with the bulk of the runs coming off the bat of Lahiru Madushanka who struck eight fours and a six in his 109-ball innings of 66. With Kavindu Pathiratne (27*), Madushanka added 81 for the last wicket. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha was the pick of the Dambulla bowlers ending with figures of 4/113.

In Dambulla’s second innings Risira Weerasuriya, the former St. Servatius College, Matara cricketer missed out on a maiden first-class hundred when he was dismissed for a stroke-filled 94 off 131 balls (14 fours). Sonal Dinusha completed his second fifty of the match remaining unbeaten on 51 off 53 balls (7 fours). Pavan Ratnayaka the first innings double centurion made 40. – (ST)

Scores: Dambulla 619-8 decl. and 220-5 (Risira Weerasuriya 94, Pavan Ratnayaka 40, Sonal Dinusha 51*, Shashika Dulshan 2/93)

Jaffna 366 (o/n 274-8) (Nishan Madushka 24, Ron Chandraguptha110, Janith Liyanage 73, Lahiru Madushanka 66, Kavindu Pathiratne 27*, Mohammed Shiraz 2/45, Dushan Hemantha 4/113)