Nissanka strikes form to put Kandy in strong position

National Super League 4-day tournament

Friday, 4 April 2025 01:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pathum Nissanka returns to form with a scintillating 160* for Kandy

Jaffna pair Shevon Daniel and Thanuka Dabare shares a second wicket stand of 134

Sudeera takes five to bowl Jaffna out for 305

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Dilum Sudeera took five Jaffna wickets for 60 runs

Sohan de Livera batting during his knock of 110* for Kandy

Pathum Nissanka and Sohan de Livera struck centuries to put Kandy in a strong position at the end of the first day of their National Super League 4-day match against Dambulla at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium yesterday.

When the leading wicket-taker of the tournament Akila Dananjaya threatened to run through the Kandy batting snapping up three wickets to have them struggling at 124-4, Nissanka and De Livera came together in an unfinished fifth wicket stand of 198 that saw Kandy finish the day strongly on 322-4 after being invited to bat first by Dambulla.

Bad light brought an early end to the proceedings with 19 overs still left to be bowled.

Following low scores of 4, 0, 18, 14 and 51 in his first three matches of the ongoing tournament Sri Lanka opener Nissanka finally came good in his fourth game for Kandy scoring a sparkling 160* off 200 balls which was studded with 15 fours.

De Livera, the southpaw from Kalutara was equal to the task matching Nissanka in strokeplay to hit 12 fours in his 136-ball innings for 110*.

At the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera took his 15th innings five-fer in first-class cricket (5/60) to bowl Jaffna out for 305 on the opening day of their match.

Galle who won the toss and decided to field first struck immediately when Nisala Tharaka trapped the tournament’s leading run scorer Ravindu Rasantha lbw for a duck in the opening over. But Jaffna recovered from that early setback when Shevon Daniel (56 off 88 balls, 8 fours) and Thanuka Dabare (81 off 80 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) put together a partnership of 134 to lay the base for their innings. With former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews contributing a workmanlike 52 off 96 balls (3 fours, 1 six) Jaffna seemed to be in a sound position at 224-3. But they lost their way towards the latter stages of the afternoon and early into the final session when left-arm spinners Dilum Sudeera and Dunith Wellalage took control of the match so that the last seven wickets fell for 81 runs. Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis ended the Jaffna innings by claiming his 300th first-class wicket in his 99th match.

Galle replied with 35-1 when rain ended play with 11.2 overs remaining to be bowled for the day.

Both matches will continue on the second day today.

First day scores

At R. Premadasa Stadium: Kandy 322-4 at close (Pathum Nissanka 160*, Pawantha Weerasinghe 20, Sohan de Livera 110*, Akila Dananjaya 3/102) v Dambulla.
At Hambantota: Jaffna 305 (Shevon Daniel 56, Thanuka Dabare 81, Angelo Mathews 52, Janith Liyanage 28, Chamika Karunaratne 35, Dilum Sudeera 5/60) Galle 35-1 at close.

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