Wooden spoonists Galle upset defending champions Dambulla

 Dambulla’s acting skipper Minod Bhanuka’s century 

proved a vain effort 

• NSL 50-over tournament continues to produce thrilling finishes

Kandy’s acting captain Niroshan Dickwella hit a 23-ball half-century

The National Super League 50-over cricket tournament continued to produce nerve-wracking finishes when yesterday at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium, wooden spoonists Galle pulled off a one-wicket win over defending champions Dambulla.

Galle did well to bowl out Dambulla inside 50 overs for 241 despite a fine century – 102 off 116 balls (14 fours, 1 six) from acting captain Minod Bhanuka. Bhanuka who opened the innings batted till the 42nd over before being dismissed. Fast bowler Milan Ratnayake and spinners Nimesh Vimukthi and Dunith Wellalage kept the Dambulla batting in check with some tidy bowling.

Galle’s run chase was spearheaded by opener Shehan Fernando (67 off 74 balls, 8 fours) and continued by the middle order Dhananjaya Lakshan (34) and acting skipper Dunith Wellalage who followed his two wickets with an admirable 52 off 63 balls (6 fours), but it was left in the end to Lahiru Samarakoon to put the finishing touches to the match. With six runs required off the last four overs and three wickets in hand it seemed a walk in the park for Galle, but former Sri Lanka wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan nearly turned the game on its head by capturing two wickets off successive deliveries to reduce Galle to 241-9 at the end of the 47th over. Samarakoon who had batted with a cool head however saw Galle home in the 48th over finishing unbeaten on 53 off 47 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes).

In the other match played yesterday at the Dambulla Cricket Stadium, Kandy beat Colombo by six wickets so that all five teams are now equal on points (2) with one win and one loss each and only net run rate separating them.

Colombo were bundled out for 215 losing their last five wickets for 47 runs. Vishad Randika made a top score of 59* off 51 balls (5 fours, 1 six) while fast bowler Lahiru Kumara returning after injury had figures of 3/27 for Kandy. Kandy in reply reached their target in 42 overs with acting captain Niroshan Dickwella hitting a pulsating 50 off 23 balls out of an opening stand of 60 off 40 balls. His innings included 48 runs in boundaries. After that buoyant start Kamil Mishara (63 off 104 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) and Sahan Arachchige (58* off 74 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) batted steadily to carry Kandy over the line with eight overs to spare. – (ST)

RESULTS

• At Pallekele: Galle beat Dambulla by one 

wicket

Dambulla 241 (48.3) (Minod Bhanuka 102, Dushan Hemantha 21, Lakshan Sandakan 38, Milan Ratnayake 3/36, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/34, Dunith Wellalage 2/49)

Galle 242-9 (47.1) (Shehan Fernando 67, Dhananjaya Lakshan 34, Dunith Wellalage 52, Lahiru Samarakoon 53*, Vishwa Fernando 2/40, Lakshan Sandakan 3/60)

nAt Dambulla: Kandy beat Colombo by six wickets

Colombo 215 (46.4) (Krishan Sanjula 25, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 40, Dushan Vimukthi 48, Vishad Randika 59*, Lahiru Kumara 3/27, Wanuja Sahan 2/39)

Kandy 221-4 (42) (Niroshan Dickwella 50, Kamil Mishara 63, Sahan Arachchige 58*, Chamika Karunaratne 20*, Prabath Jayasuriya 2/26)