Monday May 04, 2026
Monday May 04, 2026
Thursday, 23 April 2026 03:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Last year’s losing finalist Dambulla thrashed defending champions Galle by an innings and 41 runs to be home for lunch on the fourth and final day of their National Super League (NSL) 4-day match, concluded at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The 19 points Dambulla gained from the win propelled them to the top of the table and ensured them a place in the final for the second consecutive year.
Galle began the day with four wickets in hand and required 74 runs to avoid an innings defeat, but they managed to add only 33 runs before being all out for 192. A lot rested on the overnight pair of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Keshara Nuwantha, but seamer Kavindu Pathiratne broke through in the eighth over of the morning, forcing Nuwantha to edge a catch behind the wicket at 32, ending a partnership of 70 with Samarawickrama.
Akila Dananjaya got the key wicket of skipper Samarawickrama three overs later by having him caught by his vis-à-vis Dhananjaya de Silva for 74 (121 balls, 8 fours), and it was only a matter of time before the remaining wickets were consumed. Spinner Dananjaya, the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded Major Club 3-Day League, finished with figures of 4/60.
Colombo kept themselves in contention for a place in the final with Galle by taking first innings points off Kandy in their drawn match concluded early by rain at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.
Kandy, who started the final day promisingly placed at 253-4, were dismissed for 393 in their first innings in reply to Colombo’s total of 434-9 declared.
Sohan de Livera completed his eighth first-class century but could not carry on for too long when he was out for 105 (154 balls, 7 fours, 1 six). His overnight partner Ashen Bandara also did not last long, adding only eight to his overnight score before he was dismissed for 63 (129 balls, 5 fours). Ravindu Fernando fought a lone battle, scoring 70 off 116 balls (5 fours) before being last man out.
Right-arm seamer Chamod Battage added the wickets of de Livera and Wanuja Sahan for figures of 4/43. In the remaining time left, Colombo scored 76-2 when rain ended play.
Right throughout the four days, play was interrupted by bad light and rain.
Results:
Galle 255 and 192 (o/n 159-6) (Nipun Dananjaya 21, Niroshan Dickwella 34, Sadeera Samarawickrama 74, Keshara Nuwantha 32, Vishwa Fernando 2/41, Akila Dananjaya 4/60, Shakthi Udara 2/45)
Colombo 434-9 decl. and 76-2 (Dhananjaya Lakshan 33*, Ranesh Silva 20*, Dinura Kalupahana 2/26)
Kandy 393 (o/n 253-4) (Navod Paranavithana 33, Pawantha Weerasinghe 33, Sohan de Livera 105, Ashen Bandara 63, Ravindu Fernando 70, Extras 37, Pramod Madushan 2/62, Janith Liyanage 2/15, Chamod Battage 4/43)
