Ramesh Mendis scores century as Galle sends Kandy on leather hunt

Ramesh Mendis is second Galle batsman to score hundred

Galle’s Dilum Sudeera made his highest first-class score with 80*

Jeffrey Vandersay displays ball after taking six Jaffna wickets

Anjala Bandara hit an unbeaten 84* to hold Jaffna innings together

• Colombo in control of their match against Jaffna
• 4th National Super League 4-day tournament

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Defending champions Galle sent Kandy on a leather hunt piling up a massive 602-9 declared on the second day of their National Super League 4-day match at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota yesterday.

Nipun Dananjaya was able to add only two runs to his overnight total before being dismissed for 137 scored in 410 minutes (12 fours), but after sliding to 366-7 from their overnight score of 336-4, Galle was boosted by the lower order with their Vice-Captain Ramesh Mendis going onto make a century. Mendis who has a triple century to his name in first-class cricket went onto score his 11th hundred (122 off 199 balls, 10 fours) and figure in a ninth wicket stand of 139 with Dilum Sudeera to frustrate Kandy further and help Galle reach an imposing total. Sudeera offered good support to Mendis and went on to make his highest score in first-class cricket – 80* off 164 balls (7 fours) before the innings was closed.

Kandy lost the key wicket of Pathum Nissanka to the second ball of the innings for 4 before closing on 52-1. They face an uphill task of trying to match up to Galle’s first innings in the remaining two days. By maintaining a run rate of 3.58 runs per over in their innings Galle picked up a bonus point.   

In the other game played at the Galle Cricket Stadium, Colombo were in control to take a first innings lead over Jaffna at the end of the second day. Colombo’s last three wickets didn’t last long as they fell for 12 runs to be all out for 386. Jeffrey Vandersay, the Sri Lanka leg-spinner picked up two of those wickets to end with figures of 6/86 off 30 overs.

Jaffna were soon in trouble losing their first four wickets for 41 and although skipper Janith Liyanage and Anjala Bandara scored half-centuries apiece, found themselves trailing Colombo by 159 runs with only three wickets standing ending the day at 227-7.

Liyanage struck 3 fours in his 105-ball innings for 51 and helped Bandara in a fifth wicket partnership of 94 to lift the spirits of his team. Bandara received further support from Chamika Karunaratne (29) in a stand that realised 55 for the sixth wicket, but Colombo kept chipping away at the wickets and had helped themselves to seven of them leaving Bandara fighting a lone battle with 84* off 214 balls (7 fours, 1 six). Sri Lanka off-spinner Nishan Peiris who took two top order wickets ended the day with 3/55 off 27 overs.

By dismissing Colombo for under 400, Jaffna picked up a bowling bonus point. Colombo are also three wickets away from grabbing a bowling point. Both matches continue on their third day today.

Day two scores

At Galle: Colombo 386 (o/n 374-7) (Navod Paranavithana 39, Avishka Fernando 144, Dhananjaya Lakshan 23, Kavin Bandara 77, Charith Asalanka 51, Dushan Hemantha 31, Murvin Abinash 2/93, Jeffrey Vandersay 6/86) Jaffna 227-7 at close (Janith Liyanage 51, Anjala Bandara 84*, Chamika Karunaratne 29, Nishan Peiris 3/55)

At Hambantota: Galle 602-9 decl (o/n 336-4) ((Oshada Fernando 57, Nipun Dananjaya 137, Dinesh Chandimal 31, Sadeera Samarawickrama 78, Dunith Wellalage 38, Ramesh Mendis 122, Dilum Sudeera 80*, Dilshan Madushanka 21*, Chamidu Wickramasinghe 3/90, Ravindu Fernando 2/121, Nuwanidu Fernando 2/59) Kandy 52-1 at close (Lahiru Udara 36*)