Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
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Kandy’s Chamindu Wickramasinghe took his maiden five-fer in first-class cricket
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis scored his 19th first-class century to rescue Colombo from a dicey situation on the opening day of their National Super League 4-day match against Dambulla at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Choosing to bat first after a delayed start due to a wet outfield, Colombo found themselves four down for 81 by lunch. The rescue operations were carried out during the afternoon and final sessions of play, with Mendis playing the key role in partnerships of 67 with Captain Charith Asalanka (43) and 96 with Lahiru Madushanka (43). Mendis was dismissed shortly before the close for an elegant 119 scored off 123 balls (12 fours, 2 sixes), with Colombo ending on 300-9.
Former Thomian and Sri Lanka Under-19 opener Ravindu Rasantha played a sheet anchor role to hold the Jaffna innings together after being invited to bat first by Kandy at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium and losing half the side for 47.
The damage to the Jaffna top and middle order was done by Sri Lanka’s fast bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who ended up with his maiden five-fer in first-class cricket (5/54).
Angelo Mathews, turning out for his first game in the ongoing tournament for Jaffna, was one of Wickramasinghe’s three victims, falling lbw for two as Jaffna limped to lunch at 60-5. It was Wickramasinghe returning for a new spell who ended Rasantha’s resistance for a well composed 97 (198 balls, 14 fours) when he had him caught. He deprived Rasantha not only of reaching his century but also 1,000 first-class runs, for which he fell short by six runs. Rasantha and Anjala Bandara (28) figured in the only noteworthy partnership of the innings, adding 86 for the sixth wicket.
Wickramasinghe finished the Jaffna innings adding a fifth wicket to his tally, making it the first occasion for him in his 14th first-class match.
Kandy have already wiped out 67 of the runs for the loss of one wicket and look set to gain a big first innings lead over Jaffna, trailing by 134 runs with nine wickets intact.
Both matches will continue on their second day today.
Day One scores:
At R. Premadasa Stadium
Jaffna 201 (Ravindu Rasantha 97, Anjala Bandara 28, Tharindu Rathnayake 21, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 5/54, Sahan Arachchige 2/20)
Kandy 67-1 at close (Janishka Perera 28*, Kamil Mishara 22*)
At Dambulla
Colombo 300-9 at close (Asitha Wanninayake 38, Charith Asalanka 43, Kusal Mendis 119, Lahiru Madushanka 43, Mohamed Shiraz 2/48, Dulaj Samuditha 2/70, Akila Dananjaya 3/91) v Dambulla
