National Super League 4-day tournament Kandy gains first innings lead, but Colombo fights back

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Table leaders Kandy did well to dismiss Colombo for 218 and gain a slender 23-run first innings lead on the second day of the National Super League four-day tournament top of the table clash match continued at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

By stumps Colombo had hit back to take three Kandy wickets for 94. Kandy have an overall lead of 117 going into the third day today and will pin their hopes on their in-form captain Kamindu Mendis who is undefeated on 48.

Colombo slumped to 84-7 from their overnight score of 28-4 and were rescued by all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka who scored an unbeaten 80 off 139 balls (3 fours, 1 six) and was involved in two productive stands of 89 with Lakshitha Manasinghe (53 off 85 balls, 7 fours) and 40 with Prabath Jayasuriya (20). The bowling honours for Kandy were shared by seamer Asitha Fernando and off-spinner Ashian Daniel with three wickets apiece.  

In the bottom of the table clash at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, Galle produced a powerful batting display to Dambulla’s first innings total of 418 to end the second day at 225-2 to trail by 193 runs with eight wickets in hand to gain the vital first innings lead.

Galle’s fighting reply was led by all-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan who is seven runs adrift of his second first-class hundred ending the day on 93* and dominating an unfinished third wicket partnership of 157 with Hashan Dumindu (59*). Lakshan has so far hit 11 fours in his 150-ball innings while Dumindu has struck five in the 154 balls he has faced.

Earlier Dambulla added 86 runs for their last five wickets with off-spinner Chanaka Ruwansiri finishing with figures of 4 for 62 which included the wicket of top scorer Minod Bhanuka for 163 (213 balls, 18 fours). Both matches will be continued on the third day today. (ST)

Day two scores

At R. Premadasa Stadium

Kandy 241 and 94-3 at close (Kamil Mishara 25, Kamindu Mendis 48*, Lakshitha Manasinghe 3/40)

Colombo 218 (o/n 28-4) (Nisala Tharaka 24, Lahiru Madushanka 80*, Lakshitha Manasinghe 53, Prabath Jayasuriya 20, Asitha Fernando 3/38, Ashian Daniel 3/51, Sachindu Colombage 2/37)

At Dambulla

Dambulla 418 (o/n 332-5) (Nimesha Gunasinghe 103, Pawantha Weerasinghe 29, Minod Bhanuka 163, Lahiru Samarakoon 37*, Akila Dananjaya 3/98, Chanaka Ruwansiri 4/62)

Galle 225-2 at close (Sangeeth Cooray 32, Pabasara Waduge 34, Hashan Dumindu 59*, Dhananjaya Lakshan 93*)