Galle and Dambulla take command on day three

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Off-spinner Nishan Peiris with five wickets has placed Galle in a winning position against Colombo

Colombo fast bowler Isitha Wijesundara took six wickets to bring a swift end to the Galle first innings

Off-spinner Nishan Peiris took his 11th five-fer in first-class cricket (5/77) to bowl Galle into a winning position on the third day of the National Super League 4-day tournament at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

After Galle had gained a first innings lead of 98, Colombo wiped out the deficit and reached 150-3 with Dimuth Karunaratne contributing 41 and Krishan Sanjula (71 off 108 balls, 7 fours, 1 six). But Peiris caused a middle order collapse and Colombo lost their remaining seven wickets for 101 runs with only Ashen Bandara making a valiant effort with the bat scoring a defiant 86 off 107 balls (7 fours) and being the last batsman to be dismissed. Requiring 154 runs to win, Galle ended the day on nine without loss and will look to wrap up the match on the fourth and final day today to retain their top position in the standings.

Earlier Galle resuming at 361-5 lost their remaining five wickets for 33 runs with fast bowler Isitha Wijesundara returning figures of 6/45. Osahada Fernando added only two runs to his overnight score to be dismissed for 202 scored off 300 balls (23 fours, 1 six).   

Dambulla held the upperhand in their match against Jaffna at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium when they ended day three with an overall lead of 439.

Jaffna, resuming at 121-3 in reply to Dambulla’s first innings of 392, were bundled out for a disappointing 169 by a combination of seam and spin. Janith Liyanage, the acting skipper completed a half-century (52 off 87 balls, 6 fours) but there was hardly any resistance from the rest of the batting with four batsmen getting out for ducks.

With a healthy first innings lead of 223, Dambulla ended the day on 216-7 with contributions of 43 and 45 from Ranesh Silva and Naveen Fernando respectively, and an unbeaten 61 off 129 balls (7 fours) from Chamindu Wijesinghe. Liyanage opening the bowling with his medium-paced seamers captured three of the wickets to fall for 27 runs.

Both matches continue on the fourth and final day today.

THIRD DAY SCORES

• At Dambulla: Colombo 296 and 251 (Dimuth Karunaratne 41, Krishan Sanjula 71, Ashen Bandara 86, Nishan Peiris 5/77)
  
   
• Galle 394 (o/n 361-5) (Oshada Fernando 202, Nishan Peiris 46, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 33, Lakshan Edirisinghe 46, Isitha Wijesundara 6/45) and 9-0 at close
  
   
• At Pallekele: Dambulla 392 and 216-7 at close (Ranesh Silva 43, Chamindu Wijesinghe 61*, Naveen Fernando 45, Janith Liyanage 3/27, Kalhara Senaratne 2/43)
  
   
• Jaffna 169 (o/n 121-3) (Sandun Weerakkody 25, Santhush Gunathilake 43, Nipun Karunanayake 30, Janith Liyanage 52, Vishwa Fernando 2/51, Naveen Fernando 2/34, Lakshan Sandakan 2/42, Duvindu Tillakaratne 3/1)