NSL 50-over tournament Skipper Bhanuka ensures Dambulla remain unbeaten with century

Skipper Minod Bhanuka continued Dambulla’s unbeaten run in the ongoing National Super League 50-over tournament when he smashed a century (104) off 87 balls (15 fours) to lead his team to a convincing seven-wicket win over Kandy at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Chasing a target of 216, Dambulla was provided with the ideal platform with openers Abishek Liyanarachchi (43) and Bhanuka put on 94 off 98 balls, from which point they carried the momentum till victory was achieved. Kandy, invited to bat first stumbled against the right-arm fast-medium deliveries of Lahiru Samarakoon who ended up with four wickets. Sandun Weerakkody and skipper Sahan Arachchige scored fifties, but Kandy failed to last their quota of overs being bowled out in 47.5.

An all-round batting effort saw Galle register their first win beating Colombo by seven wickets at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. A stroke-filled 101 off 114 balls (6 fours) from Ashen Bandara and contributions of 67 from Sachitha Jayathilake and forties from skipper Dasun Shanaka and Charith Asalanka saw Colombo reach a challenging total of 281-9.

Galle took up the challenge spiritedly and chased down the total with three overs to spare. Half-centuries from Mohammad Shamaz (65 off 90 balls, 8 fours), Dhananjaya Lakshan (61 off 59 balls, 6 fours, 1 six), Pasindu Sooriyabandara (53* off 60 balls, 4 fours) and Mahesh Kumara (57 off 47 balls, 8 fours) saw Galle comfortably home. (ST)

Results

At Pallekele: Dambulla beat Kandy by seven wickets. Kandy 215 (47.5) (Sandun Weerakkody 67, Sahan Arachchige 53, Ahan Wickramasinghe 24, Nuwan Thushara 2/27, Lahiru Samarakoon 4/39, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/40). Dambulla 219-3 (37.4) (Abishek Liyanarachchi 43, Minod Bhanuka 104, Lasith Abeyratne 28*, Wanindu Hasaranga 21*)

At Dambulla: Galle beat Colombo by seven wickets. Colombo 281-9 (50) (Charith Asalanka 42, Ashen Bandara 101, Dasun Shanaka 48, Sachitha Jayathilake 67, Dilshan Madushanka 2/58). Galle 282-3 (47) (Sohan de Livera 21, Mohammad Shamaz rtd ht 65, Dhananjaya Lakshan 61, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 53*, Mahesh Kumara 57, Dasun Shanaka 3/32)