Kandy hangs on to deprive defending champs Dambulla a win

Nimesh Vimukthi spearheaded Galle’s win against Jaffna with a bag of eight wickets

Kamindu Mendis’ knock of 172 failed to bring a win for Dambulla 

• National Super League 4-day tournament

Table leaders Kandy sans their captain Pathum Nissanka put up a gallant display of batting in their second innings to force a draw against defending champions Dambulla on the fourth and final day of their National Super League 4-day tournament match played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Kandy did well to gain a first innings lead of 58, but Dambulla came back strongly in their second innings to post a score of 388, leaving Kandy with the task of chasing 331 for victory. Dambulla looked to be heading for victory when they captured eight Kandy wickets for 144, but a superb rear guard action by the tail deprived them of a win with Kandy finishing on 209-9.

Kandy’s fightback was led by Lahiru Kumara who scored a defiant 44* off 80 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) that saw the last two wickets offer stubborn resistance for 95 balls.

Dambulla’s powerful second innings total was spearheaded by their captain Kamindu Mendis who scored his second century of the tournament with a workmanlike knock of 172 off 276 balls (23 fours) and Chamindu Wijesinghe (61* off 111 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) against the threat posed by Wanuja Sahan who ended up with a match bag of 10 wickets for 152 with his left-arm orthodox spin.

Another left-arm orthodox spinner Nimesh Vimukthi took a match bag of eight wickets for 98 to bowl Galle to a comprehensive 235 runs win over Jaffna at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota.

Left with a formidable target of 442 to chase for victory, Jaffna resuming at 37-3 were dismissed for 206 with Vimukthi returning figures of 4/57 to add to his four wickets in the first innings. Sri Lanka Test captain and captain of Jaffna Dhananjaya de Silva made a valiant 86 off 115 balls (12 fours, 1 six) and shared a sixth wicket stand of 87 with Santhush Gunathilake (36), but the target proved overwhelming.      

– (ST)

RESULTS:

At Hambantota: Galle beat Jaffna by 235 runs.

Galle 265-9 decl. and 361-4 decl.

Jaffna 185 and 206 (o/n 37-3) (Nipun Karunanayake 42, Dhananjaya de Silva 86, Santhush Gunathilake 36, Udith Madushan 3/54, Nishan Peiris 2/48, Nimesh Vimukthi 4/57) 

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

Dambulla 311 and 388 (o/n 325-6) (Kamindu Mendis 172, Sonal Dinusha 64, Chamindu Wijesinghe 61*, Extras 34, Wanuja Sahan 4/82, Ashian Daniel 3/88)

Kandy 369 and 209-9 (Kasun Vidura 63, Sahan Kosala 25, Sithara Gimhan 23, Ashian Daniel 22, Lahiru Kumara 44*, Murvin Abinash 2/74, Dushan Hemantha 2/35)