Wanuja Sahan (6/70) keeps Dambulla down to 311

 Kandy’s Wanuja Sahan took six Dambulla wickets for 70

National Super League 4-day tournament

Fifties from Kamindu Mendis and Sonal Dinusha helped defending champions Dambulla to a score of 311 on the opening day of their National Super League 4-day match against table leaders Kandy at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Mendis struck 11 fours in his 97-ball knock of 73 and Dinusha coming to bat at the score of 92-4 hit a pleasing 82 off 109 balls (10 fours) to enable Dambulla to a respectable total. Former Sri Lanka U19 cricketer Wanuja Sahan playing in his 21th first-class game took his tenth five-fer in an innings with figures of 6/70 of 24 overs by stumps Kandy had replied with 14-0.

Jaffna led by Sri Lanka Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva did well to capture nine Galle wickets for 265 on the opening day of their match at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota. Galle won the toss and batted first but struggled against the seam of Santhush Gunathilake and spin of Ravindu Fernando, Dilum Sudeera and De Silva.

Sri Lanka top order batsman Oshada Fernando scored 58 off 92 balls (9 fours) and Vishad Randika (46 off 101 balls, 4 fours) but none could play a dominant innings. Both matches will continue on its second day today. – (ST)

DAY ONE SCORES

•  At Dambulla: Dambulla 311 (Ranesh Silva 32, Kamindu Mendis 73, Sonal Dinusha 82, Dushan Hemantha 30, Chamindu Wijesinghe 39, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/67, Wanuja Sahan 6/70)

Kandy 14-0 at close.

• Galle 265-9 at close (Oshada Fernando 58, Mohammed Shamaaz 31, Vishad Randika 46, Dhananjaya Lakshan 33, Nimesh Vimukthi 25, Milan Ratnayake 22, Nishan Peiris 26*, Santhush Gunathilake 3/21, Ravindu Fernando 2/41, Dhananjaya de Silva 2/26) v Jaffna