Dambulla in strong position to force a win

Ron Chandraguptha and Navod Paranavithana scored 50s apiece and shared an opening stand of 115 for Jaffna

Galle’s Lakshan Edirisinghe finds runs on the leg side during his innings of 70

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Dambulla came back strongly from their three-day defeat last week at the hands of Galle to place themselves in a strong position to force a win against Jaffna at the SSC grounds in the National Super League 4-day tournament matches continued on its second day yesterday.

In the other match between the two unbeaten sides defending champions Kandy and Galle at the P. Sara Oval, Galle took the upper hand when they grabbed a first innings lead of 75.  

Dambulla resuming at 170-6 could not make much headway in their first innings being all out for 213, a useful lead of 151. Jaffna put up a much-improved batting display in their second innings with openers Navod Paranavithana and Ron Chandraguptha scoring a 50 apiece and putting on a stand of 115. Chandraguptha, the more aggressive of the two struck 10 fours in scoring 67 off 76 balls. 

Paranavithana made a patient 64 off 105 balls (8 fours). Once the partnership was broken by Asitha Fernando who had Chandraguptha caught behind by Minod Bhanuka, Jaffna somewhat lost their way as four wickets fell for the addition of 67 runs, leaving them precariously placed at 208-4 by the close, an overall lead of 57 runs with six wickets in hand going into the third day today.

Left-handed opener Sangeeth Cooray completed his 11th first-class century helping Galle to a total of 365 in reply to Kandy’s first innings of 290. Cooray and Lakshan Edirisinghe carried their overnight second wicket partnership to worth 144, before Edirisinghe was dismissed for an enterprising 70 off 91 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes).

Cooray went onto add a further 82 for the third wicket with Angelo Mathews (44) before being fifth out with the score at 297, having contributed a fine constructive innings of 132 off 207 balls (12 fours, 2 sixes). Wicketkeeper Vishad Randika kept the innings afloat with a tidy knock of 53 off 68 balls (5 fours, 1 six) before the innings came to an end.

Faced with a deficit of 75 runs, Kandy ended the day on 21-1 to trail by 54 runs. Today is the third day.      

DAY TWO SCORES

• At SSC: Jaffna 62 and 208-4 at close (Navod Paranavithana 64, Ron Chandraguptha 67, Madawa Warnapura 26*)

Dambulla 213 (o/n 170-6) (Minod Bhanuka 67, Ranitha Liyanarachchi 51, Vishwa Fernando 25*, Nipun Malinga 2/39, Yasiru Rodrigo 3/52, Eshan Malinga 2/39, Dilum Sudeera 2/18)

• At P. Sara Oval: Kandy 290 and 21-1 at close

Galle 365 (o/n 53-1) (Sangeeth Cooray 132, Lakshan Edirisinghe 70, Angelo Mathews 44, Vishad Randika 53, Nipun Ransika 3/85, Sahan Kumara 3/105)