Jaffna, Kandy register wins in opening weekend of NSL 4-day tournament

Jeffrey Vandersay and Lahiru Madushanka batting during their ninth wicket century partnership for Jaffna

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Jaffna and Kandy recorded first innings wins on the opening weekend of the National Super League (NSL) 4-day tournament yesterday.

Jaffna’s tail wagged to give them a first innings win over Colombo in their match which ended in a draw at the SSC grounds.

Replying to Colombo’s total of 348, Jaffna found themselves in trouble at 177-6, but excellent contributions from the late order especially the tail saw them nose ahead and be all out for 359.

Jaffna’s recovery came from Shashika Dulshan (22) and Ravindu Fernando (40) who carried the total to 253-8. The most important aspect of the innings was the 102-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Lahiru Madushanka (58 off 95 balls, 6 fours) and Jeffrey Vandersay (53 off 79 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) that enabled Jaffna to pass the Colombo total.

By the close in their second innings, Colombo scored 142-5 with Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne failing to make use of time at the crease, being dismissed for 11 following his score of 19 in the first innings.

At the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota, Galle battled out a draw against Kandy after conceding first innings points. Set a target of 301 runs to win, Galle successfully warded off the off-breaks of Ashian Daniel to finish on 201-7 in their second innings with bad light ending play. Daniel threatened to run through the Galle batting, capturing the first five wickets to end with figures of 5/59. Test opener Oshada Fernando was one of Daniel’s victims being trapped lbw for 75 scored off 82 balls (10 fours, 1 six). Earlier, Kandy declared their second innings at 190-5 with opener Lahiru Udara following his first innings century with another pleasing knock of 72 scored at a run-a-ball inclusive of five fours and three sixes.

RESULTS

At SSC: Match Drawn. (Jaffna won on first innings)

Colombo 348 and 142-5 (Nuwanidu Fernando 32, Himasha Liyanage 51*, Ravindu Fernando 3/67, Shashika Dulshan 2/47)

Jaffna 359 (o/n 184-6) (Nishan Madushka 60, Hasitha Boyagoda 42, Nipun Karunanayake 31, Santhush Gunathilaka 24, Shashika Dulshan 22, Ravindu Fernando 40, Lahiru Madushanka 58, Jeffrey Vandersay 53, Nisala Tharaka 3/79, Isitha Wijesundera 3/49, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 2/34)

At Hambantota: Match Drawn. (Kandy won on first innings)

Kandy 365 and 190-5 decl (o/n 15-0) (Kasun Vidura 34, Lahiru Udara 72, Lasith Lakshan 25, Ramesh Mendis 3/74)

Galle 205 and 201-7 (Oshada Fernando 75, Lakshan Edirisinghe 36*, Ashian Daniel 5/59)