Galle take first innings points to regain lead

Galle beat defending champions Dambulla in the first innings of their drawn match to snatch the lead from Kandy in the National Super League 4-day tournament.

Table leaders Kandy were beaten inside three days by an innings by Colombo on Saturday. In the match concluded at the Galle Stadium yesterday, Galle declared their second innings at 339-8 setting Dambulla with the improbable target of 485 to chase in 46 overs. Dambulla finished on 189-4 with Pavan Ratnayake scoring an undefeated 71 off 75 balls (6 fours, 1 six). In Galle’s second innings Pasindu Sooriyabandara (94 off 108 balls, 8 fours) and Nimesh Vimukthi (career best 74 off 112 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) shared a seventh wicket stand of 145 to lift Galle from 170-6 to their final total. – (ST)

Scores: Galle 425 and 339-8 decl. (o/n 143-4) (Sangeeth Cooray 27, Shehan Fernando 39, Suminda Lakshan 39, Vishad Randika 23, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 94, Nimesh Vimukthi 74, Mohamed Shiraz 2/40, Dushan Hemantha 2/74, Sonal Dinusha 2/102)

Dambulla 280 and 189-4 (Minod Bhanuka 25, Sanoj Darshika 34, Pavan Ratnayake 71*, Chamindu Wijesinghe 21*, Suminda Lakshan 2/60)