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Dambulla Captain Minod Bhanuka (104) receiving the Man of the Match award against Kandy from Match Referee Brendon Kuruppu
Galle’s Dhananjaya Lakshan (61 and 1/47) receiving Man of the Match award against Colombo from Match Referee Ranjith Priyantha
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
The ongoing National Super League 50-over tournament will lose some of its lustre with Sri Lanka’s white ball cricketers who are currently a part of it, leaving for New Zealand in the early hours of today to play in the upcoming three-match ODI and T20I series.
Defending champions Jaffna will be without their in-form Captain Sadeera Samarawickrama and fast bowler Pramod Madushan, but will have wicket-keeper/batsman Nishan Madushka who made his Test debut in the ongoing second Test at Wellington back after 21 March for the remaining matches.
Last year’s finalist Kandy and Colombo – both of whom are still without a single win are the worst hit. Kandy will lose the services of batsmen Pathum Nissanka and Lasith Croospulle, acting Captain Sahan Arachchige, and fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, but will be strengthened by the return of Oshada Fernando and Niroshan Dickwella after the Test series. Colombo will not have any such replacements returning from New Zealand as they lose national white ball captain and all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, and batsmen Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, and Nuwanidu Fernando.
Galle who recorded their first win of the tournament on Friday beating Colombo, will be sans stand-in captain and all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka and spinner Maheesh Theekshana, but they will be somewhat compensated by the return of Dinesh Chandimal, skipper Ramesh Mendis and Milan Ratnayake at the end of the Test series.
Table toppers Dambulla will lose their match-winning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. However, the return of fast bowlers Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando from Test duty will to some extent redress the balance.
Players who are not part of the ODI series will return after the third and final ODI is completed on 31 March and will be available to play for their respective teams on the final day of the round robin league matches and the final which follows if their teams have qualified. The T20I players however will return only after the NSL 50-over final which is scheduled for 6 April.
Of the two matches down for decision today, Jaffna gets a chance to head the standings when they are pitted against Colombo at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium. After three successive matches which they have utilised fully to record three wins, table leaders Dambulla get their first break in the tournament, which gives Jaffna an opportunity to draw level on points if they beat Colombo and take over the leadership for the first time. To do so, Jaffna must win with a bonus point which would draw them level on 14 points with Dambulla with only net run rate separating the two.
Two depleted teams Galle and Kandy will meet in the second match at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. While Galle will look to improve their position from number three after winning their first match, wooden-spooners Kandy will be searching for their first win.
