Randika (122) leads Dambulla’s spirited fight back

Thursday, 24 April 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dambulla’s match-winner Vishad Randika celebrates his century

Chamindu Wijesinghe sweeps during his 143-run liaison with Vishad Randika

20-year-old Inuka Karannagoda brings up his half-century for Dambulla

Galle’s Dunith Wellalage celebrates taking 100 first-class wickets

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Dambulla once again displayed their tenacity to fight it out when the odds are low, recovering from a hopeless 203-6 to top Jaffna’s total of 418 and gaining a first innings points win to finish the league stage of the 4th National Super League 4-day tournament on a high in their match which concluded at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Dambulla’s match winner was their wicket-keeper/batsman Vishad Randika who scored a brilliant century (122 off 331 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) – his sixth in first-class cricket to deny Jaffna a win. Randika defied the nine bowlers used by Jaffna to unsettle him with a mixture of caution and aggression and built up two match-winning partnerships to see Dambulla finish on 470-8.

With Chamindu Wijesinghe (72 off 174 balls, 9 fours), Randika added 143 for the seventh wicket, and with 20-year-old Inuka Karannagoda playing in only his fourth first-class game (51* off 114 balls, 6 fours) a further 89 runs for the eighth wicket that saw Dambulla go past Jaffna’s total.

Jaffna finish the league phase without a win in four matches, while table leaders Dambulla will be joined by second placed Galle in the final commencing at the SSC on 27 April.

Galle, the defending champions had a close call against Colombo before grabbing first innings points in their match concluded at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium.

Colombo put up a gutsy fight to come 13 runs within Galle’s total of 435 being bowled out for 422. Resuming at 341-6, they lost the wickets of skipper Charith Asalanka (151 off 206 balls, 17 fours, 2 sixes) and Prabath Jayasuriya (3) early to left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage to be reduced to 356-8.

However bowlers Pramod Madushan (45 off 72 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) and Nishan Peiris (25 off 53 balls) stuck it out in a stubborn partnership that realised 57 useful runs for the ninth wicket causing concerns in the Galle camp. But once the stand was broken there was not much resistance forthcoming. Wellalage was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 4/81 off 29 overs taking him past 100 first-class wickets in his 33rd match.

In the remaining time left, Galle scored 118-3 in their second innings with Nipun Dananjaya helping himself to a half-century (73* off 113 balls, 9 fours).

RESULTS

At Pallekele: Match Drawn (Dambulla won on 1st innings)

Jaffna 418;

Dambulla 470-8 (o/n 264-6) (Nishan Madushka 24, Ron Chandraguptha 20, Dinura Kalupahana 55, Sammu Ashan 71, Vishad Randika 122, Chamindu Wijesinghe 72, Inuka Karannagoda 51*, Isitha Wijesundara 2/57, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/111, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/121)

At Dambulla: Match Drawn (Galle won on 1st innings)

Galle 435 and 118-3 (Nipun Dananjaya 73*, Santhush Gunathilake 28*, Prabath Jayasuriya 2/61)

Colombo 422 (o/n 341-6) (Avishka Fernando 53, Dhananjaya Lakshan 60, Charith Asalanka 151, Kavin Bandara 40, Pramod Madushan 45, Nishan Peiris 25, Nisala Tharaka 2/79, Ramesh Mendis 2/115, Dunith Wellalage 4/81)

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