Ahan rescues Kandy with pugnacious century

Chamika Karunaratne and Ahan Wickramasinghe figured in a stand of 124 for Kandy

Ahan Wickramasinghe batting during his innings of 147* for Kandy

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Former Royalist 22-year-old Ahan Wickramasinghe came to the rescue of Kandy with his fifth first-class century of a short career of 29 matches steering them to a vital first innings lead over Jaffna on the second day of the National Super League 4-day match played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Resuming at 57-3 in reply to Jaffna’s first innings of 261, Kandy were in deep trouble at 57-4 when Wickramasinghe walked out to bat. He held the innings together with a pugnacious knock of 147* that saw Kandy end the day on 348-7, a lead of 87 with bad light bringing forward the close.

Wickramasinghe who has so far hit 14 fours and a six in his 169-ball innings was helped in a partnership of 124 for the sixth wicket by all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne who went onto make a useful 71 off 94 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes).

Tailenders Wanuja Sahan (20) and Ashian Daniel (18*) assisted Wickramasinghe in raising the total further by 110 runs.

Rain and bad light affected the second day of the match between Dambulla and Colombo played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota. In reply to Dambulla’s first innings total of 240, Colombo were struggling at 187-8 by the close, still 53 runs shy of taking the vital first innings lead with only two wickets standing.

Knocks of 40 apiece by Krishan Sanjula and Dasun Shanaka were the only noteworthy features of Colombo’s batting as they succumbed to the seam of Mohamed Shiraz and Naveen Fernando who have so far taken four wickets between them.

Both matches continue on their third day today.

DAY TWO SCORES

+At R. Premadasa Stadium: Jaffna 261;

Kandy 348-7 at close (o/n 57-3) (Kamil Mishara 38, Niroshan Dickwella 26, Ahan Wickramasinghe 147*, Chamika Karunaratne 71, Wanuja Sahan 20, Lahiru Madushanka 2/51, Ravindu Fernando 2/73)

+At Hambantota: Dambulla 240 (o/n 240-9) (Lasith Croospulle 43, Sanoj Darshika 23, Pavan Ratnayake 35, Chamindu Wijesinghe 51, Naveen Fernando 25, Nisala Tharaka 4/77, Isitha Wijesundara 3/44, Dasun Shanaka 2/35)

Colombo 187-8 at close (Krishan Sanjula 49, Dasun Shanaka 42, Dunith Wellalage 20*, Mohamed Shiraz 2/57, Naveen Fernando 2/38)