Kandy in command after terminating Colombo for 106

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DDS century in vain as Dambulla fall short by 7 runs
4th National Super League 4-day tournament

Dambulla Captain Dhananjaya de Silva celebrates his 25th first-class century

Dambulla’s Lasith Embuldeniya completed his maiden first-class fifty

Kandy pacer Shiran Fernando ripped through Colombo batting with 4 wickets

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Last year’s finalists Galle and Kandy took first innings leads with both teams grabbing the extra bowling bonus points by dismissing their opponents below 400 runs on the second day of the 4th National Super League 4-day tournament yesterday.

Dambulla making their appearance for the first time fell agonisingly short by 8 runs to top Galle’s first innings total of 267 being dismissed for 260 in their match played at the Galle Cricket Stadium.

Resuming at 38 for no loss Dambulla slumped to 57-4 before a 107-run stand by skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha (39) put them back on track. But the fall of three quick wickets for six runs saw them struggling at 170-7, when De Silva found another able partner in Lasith Embuldeniya. The two stitched a partnership of 67 for the eighth wicket raising fresh hopes. De Silva’s dismissal for 106 (155 balls, 14 fours) after completing his 25th first-class century ended their chances. Embuldeniya and Vishwa Fernando tried their best to get closer to Galle’s total by adding 23 runs for the last wicket, but the effort proved a tad too much. Milan Rathnayake ended Fernando’s 26-ball innings for 4 leaving Embuldeniya unbeaten on 54 (84 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) – his maiden first-class fifty.

Lasith Croospulle who was hit on the helmet by Rathnayake and was forced to retire hurt with his score on 11 took no further part in the match. He is currently under observation and his place was taken by concussion sub Ron Chandraguptha who was dismissed for 6. As soon as the Dambulla innings ended, rain washed out play for the rest of the day with 25 overs remaining to be bowled.

At the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, defending champions Galle took a commanding first innings lead of 354 after dismissing Colombo for 106. By the close they had extended the lead to 380 by scoring 26 without loss.

Right-arm quick Shiran Fernando was the main destroyer of the Colombo innings with 4/49. He had good support from fast bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe (2/8) and left-arm spinner Sahan Nanayakkara (3/18). Only the first three batsmen in the Colombo innings got into double figures in a disappointing display of batting.

Kandy resuming their first innings at 328-5 reached 460 courtesy a half-century (53 off 69 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) from Ravindu Fernando.

Both matches continue on their third day today.

Day two scores

At Hambantota: Kandy 460 (o/n 328-5) (Janishka Perera 48, Kamil Mishara 172, Nuwanidu Fernando 45, Sahan Arachchige 68, Sohan de Livera 24, Ravindu Fernando 53, Kasun Rajitha 3/80, Nishan Peiris 3/101, Dushan Hemantha 2/91) and 26 for no loss at close.

Colombo 106 (Navod Paranavithana 22, Shiran Fernando 4/49, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 2/8, Sahan Nanayakkara 3/18)

At Galle: Galle 267;

Dambulla 260 (o/n 38-0) (Dhananjaya de Silva 106, Sonal Dinusha 39, Lasith Embuldeniya 54*, Dilshan Madushanka 3/64, Milan Rathnayake 3/37, Dilum Sudeera 2/49)

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