Kandy has Dambulla under the hammer

Kandy captain Kamindu Mendis (right) and Lahiru Udara during their 151-run stand for the fourth

• Malinda Pushpakumara joins elite list – captures 800th first-class wicket

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Kandy had wooden spoonists Dambulla struggling in reply to their total of 446 despite an excellent spell of left-arm bowling by former Sri Lankan spinner Malinda Pushpakumara who went onto join an elite club of bowlers who had captured 800 wickets in first-class cricket.

By stumps on the second day of the National Super League 4-day tournament match played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Dambulla were 77-3 trailing Kandy by 369 runs in the first innings with seven wickets in hand.

In the other match played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, rain halted Galle’s reply to Jaffna’s total of 254.

Pushpakumara returned his 67th five-for in an innings and in the process of doing so achieved a rare milestone of 800 first-class wickets playing in his 142nd match. His 800th victim was Kandy opener Lasith Croospulle whom he had caught by Lakshan Sandakan for 43 on the first day. 

With Sandakan being expensive going at four and a half runs an over, the burden of bowling fell on the shoulders of Pushpakumara who responded magnificently to send down 43.5 overs for figures of seven for 120.

Pushpakumara in fact became the sixth bowler from Sri Lanka to achieve the milestone of 800 first-class wickets after Muthiah Muralitharan (1374 wickets), Rangana Herath (1080), Dinuka Hettarachchi (1000), Sajeewa Weerakoon (816) and Dilruwan Perera (808). The unique feature of this list is that all are spinners. Perera was the last bowler to achieve the milestone in August 2020.

Kandy were heading for a massive first innings total when they were 404-4 with skipper Kamindu Mendis and Lahiru Udara the two overnight batsmen carrying their fourth wicket stand to worth 151 before Pushpakumara caused a collapse as Kandy lost their last six wickets for 42 runs. 

Pushpakumara accounted for the wickets or Udara for 83 (117 balls, 9 fours), Sahan Arachchige (6) and Mendis for 94 (189 balls, nine fours, one six) and rounded off the innings with the wickets of Ashian Daniel and Asitha Fernando to add to the two he took on the first day.

Sri Lanka white ball fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep hit a career best 37* (40 balls, six fours, one six) to help Jaffna to a decent total of 254 after they had slid to 195-9. 

Pradeep forged a last wicket stand of 59 with Kalhara Senaratne who equalled his highest first-class score of 29 before getting bowled by Dilshan Madushanka.

Galle’s reply was stalled by rain. Their openers had given them a solid base by sharing an unfinished stand of 113 off 31 overs before rain ended play for the day with 57.2 overs remaining to be bowled for the day. 

Sangeeth Cooray and Pabasara Waduge both completed their respective half-centuries before the interruption. Cooray was unbeaten on 58 off 90 balls and Waduge 51* off 94 balls. Both have hit six fours apiece.   

The matches will continue on their third day today.

DAY TWO SCORES:

@Pallekele: Kandy 446 (o/n 297-3) (Kamil Mishara 74, Lasith Croospulle 43, Oshada Fernando 97, Kamindu Mendis 94, Lahiru Udara 83, Malinda Pushpakumara 7/120)

Dambulla 77-3 at close (Minod Bhanuka 37*, Asitha Fernando 2/25)  

@Hambantota: Jaffna 254 (o/n 218-9) (Nishan Madushka 29, Navod Paranavithana 34, Saminda Fernando 27, Santhush Gunathilaka 28, Kalhara Senaratne 29, Nuwan Pradeep 37*, Dilshan Madushanka 3/51, Chalana de Silva 2/72, Suminda Lakshan 4/28)

Galle 113 for no loss at close (Sangeeth Cooray 58*, Pabasara Waduge 51*)