Pacesetters Dambulla dump depleted Colombo with ease

Ashan Priyanjan of Dambulla celebrates taking six Colombo wickets

• Galle scrape through by one wicket
• National Super League 50-over tournament

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Pacesetters in the National Super League 50-over tournament Dambulla scored their fourth successive win to consolidate their position at the top of the table, while defending champions Jaffna suffered a loss to Galle.

Dambulla beat a depleted Colombo side by six wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday with off-spinning all-rounder Ashen Priyanjan returning his best figures in one-day limited-over cricket with six wickets for 20.

Colombo sans at least six of the national players including their captain Dasun Shanaka, put into bat first were bundled out for 140 with only Ashen Bandara (36) and Kalana Perera (24*) making some sort of contribution with the bat as Priyanjan ran through their batting with a skillful display of spin bowling. 

Colombo was not helped in their cause with two run outs also contributing to their downfall. A half-century off 53 balls from Pavan Ratnayake (7 fours, 1 six) and contributions of 30 and 29 from Lasith Abeyratne and Sonal Dinusha respectively saw Dambulla home and dry in the 28th over.

Galle who were involved in a tight contest against Kandy losing by eight runs, managed to turn the game around in their favour this time around against Jaffna scraping through by one wicket with five balls to spare at the R. Premadasa Stadium. 

Chasing 246 to win, Galle began the final over needing three runs with two wickets in hand. National poolist fast bowler Shiran Fernando dismissed Praveen Jayawickrama off the first ball to make it 243-9, but was guilty of bowling a wide off the next delivery followed by another wide that went to the boundary for Galle to clinch the match in their favour.

Fifties from Pasindu Sooriybandara (59 off 81 balls, 3 fours) and Pathum Kumara (57 off 69 balls, 4 fours) and a useful innings of 41 off 46 balls (3 fours, 1 six) from Kavishka Anjula saw Galle chase down Jaffna’s score of 245-7 of which Ron Chandraguptha made a top score of 57 off 105 balls (3 fours) and Lahiru Madushanka contributed 48* off 41 balls (2 fours, 1 six).

RESULTS:

• At SSC: Dambulla beat Colombo by six wickets. Colombo 140 (38) (Ashen Bandara 36, Kalana Perera 24*, Ashan Priyanjan 6/20) Dambulla 146-4 (27.3) (Pavan Ratnayake 51, Lasith Abeyratne 30, Sondal Dinusha 29*)  
• At R. Premadasa Stadium: Galle beat Jaffna by one wicket. Jaffna 245-7 (50) (Navod Paranavithana 36, Ron Chandraguptha 57, Kasun Abeyratne 36, Janith Liyanage 36, Lahiru Madushanka 48*, Tilanga Udeshana 2/47, Kavishka Anjula 2/55)Galle 249-9 (49.1) (Sohan de Livera 37, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 59, Pathum Kumara 57, Kavishka Anjula 41, Shiran Fernando 2/49, Dilum Sudeera 2/29) 

Pavan Ratnayake drives on his way to half-century for Dambulla

Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Pathum Kumara made fifties apiece in Galle’s successful run chase against Jaffna