Nissanka double ton puts Kandy on sound footing

Saturday, 5 April 2025 01:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Galle fight back against Jaffna
4th National Super League Tournament

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Pathum Nissanka, leading Kandy in the absence of regular skipper Sahan Arachchige who has been pulled out of the squad to prepare for Sri Lanka ‘A’ team’s tour of Abu Dhabi next week, played a truly remarkable innings, scoring a double century (202 off 260 balls, 19 fours) to put his team on a sound footing on the second day of their National Super League match against Dambulla at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Nissanka, who was unbeaten on 160 overnight, moved from 191 to his double century by taking 10 runs off a Dinura Kalupahana over. Kandy began the day strongly placed at 322-4 but lost their remaining six wickets for 84 runs in the morning session to be all out for 453.

Sohan de Livera (142 off 169 balls, 17 fours), who added 245 for the fourth wicket with Nissanka, was the first of six wickets to fall, trapped lbw by spinner Akila Dananjaya who went onto take his fourth five-fer in an innings in three matches – 5/140 off 36 overs. There was not much resistance from the rest of the batting after Nissanka was dismissed 11 overs later. It was a good fight back by Dambulla after the first day.

Faced with the enormous task of trying to overhaul Kandy’s total, Dambulla lost four wickets for 207 when bad light brought an early finish to the day. Dambulla lost their first three wickets for 89 when skipper Dhananjaya de Silva was joined by Sahan Kosala (34) in a partnership of 70. Dasun Shanaka then plundered 34* off 38 balls in an unfinished stand of 48 with De Silva, who ended the day undefeated on 81 off 115 balls (8 fours, 1 six). A lot will depend on this experienced pair if Dambulla are to get anywhere close to Kandy’s total. They trail by 246 runs with six wickets in hand.

When stumps were drawn early on the second day due to rain at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, defending champions Galle found themselves trailing Jaffna by 45 runs with four first innings wickets in hand.

Replying to Jaffna’s first innings of 305, Galle slumped to 169-6 with only Oshada Fernando (62 off 107 balls, 5 fours) and Dinesh Chandimal (40 off 49 balls) making any noteworthy contribution with a stand of 91. But Dunith Wellalage and Captain Ramesh Mendis dug themselves in to produce an unfinished partnership of 91 for Galle to breathe a lot more easily towards the end of the day, finishing on 260-6. Wellalage was unbeaten on 68 (82 balls, 8 fours) and Mendis on 36* (70 balls, 1 four).

Both matches continue on their third day today.

Day 2 scores

At R. Premadasa Stadium: Kandy 453 (o/n 322-4) (Pathum Nissanka 202, Pawantha Weerasinghe 20, Sohan de Livera 142, Ravindu Fernando 37, Dinura Kalupahana 2/64, Akila Dananjaya 5/140, Chamindu Wijesinghe 3/59)

Dambulla 207-4 at close (Nishan Madushka 31, Dhananjaya de Silva 81*, Sahan Kosala 34, Dasun Shanaka 34*, Ashian Daniel 2/62)

At Hambantota:

Jaffna 305

Galle 260-6 at close (o/n 35-1) (Oshada Fernando 62, Dinesh Chandimal 40, Dunith Wellalage 68*, Ramesh Mendis 36*, Sithum Disanayaka 3/39)

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