Ratnayake century helps Dambulla retain title

Pavan Ratnayake and Sanoj Dharshika during their 160-run partnership for Dambulla

Dambulla’s Pavan Ratnayake exults after reaching his century

• National Super League 50-over final

Dambulla led by former Sri Lanka white ball wicket-keeper/batsman Minod Bhanuka retained the National Super League 50-over title for yet another year when they defeated Kandy by 19 runs in the final played under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

A run-a-ball 160-run partnership between Pavan Ratnayake and Sanoj Darshika for the third wicket after openers Bhanuka (69 off 62 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) and Lasith Croospulle (36) had put on 96 off 93 balls saw Dambulla run up an imposing total of 332-4 batting first.

Kandy was very much in the hunt and were well ahead of the required run rate through a second wicket stand of 149 off 112 balls between hard hitting Lahiru Udara who scored a 50-ball 86 with 10 fours and 4 sixes, and Kamil Mishara. But once Mishara fell for a well compiled 94 off 95 balls (12 fours) edging a catch behind the wicket, Kandy innings lost momentum and five wickets fell for 53 as they slid to 272-9. Last pair Wanuja Sahan (44* off 37 balls) and Nimsara Atharagalla raised hopes in the Kandy camp by adding 41 off 27 balls, but in the end, it turned out to be a bridge too far and the innings folded up for 313. Right throughout their innings Kandy maintained an excellent run rate ahead of Dambulla, but the difference was they lost too many wickets doing so.

In Dambulla’s innings Darshika made a run-a-ball 73 with four fours and four sixes for his highest score in one-day cricket before miscuing a catch to mid- wicket. Ratnayake, the leading run-getter in the tournament went onto complete his second century in one-day cricket a career best 118 off 108 balls inclusive of 10 fours and 3 sixes.

Leg-spinner Pulina Tharanga was taken to task by the Dambulla batsmen who smote him for six sixes out of the 11 scored in the innings. Right-arm fast-medium bowler Nimsara Atharagalla also at the receiving end being hit for 57 runs in five overs which included 11 fours. – (ST)

Scores: Dambulla 332-4 (50) (Minod Bhanuka 69, Lasith Croospulle 36, Sanoj Darshika 73, Pavan Ratnayake 118*, Ayana Siriwardhana 21, Pulina Tharanga 2/68)

Kandy 313 (45.3) (Lahiru Udara 86, Kamil Mishara 94, Wanuja Sahan 44*, Mohamed Shiraz 2/42, Dushan Hemantha 3/63, Ayana Siriwardhana 3/58)