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Niroshan Dickwella and Lahiru Udara scored a century apiece and put on 233 runs for the first wicket for Kandy against Galle
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Jaffna joined Kandy in the final of the National Super League Limited Overs final when they defeated Colombo by four wickets yesterday. In the other match Kandy who had already qualified for the final beat Galle by 66 runs.
Sri Lanka cap Niroshan Dickwella who has had a rather ordinary tournament with the bat hit a timely hundred and shared a double century opening partnership with Lahiru Udara as table toppers. Kandy fired out a warning that they were in peak form for Saturday’s final by producing a powerful batting performance running up the highest total of the tournament – 343-6 in their 66-run win over Galle at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday. It was the second time that Kandy had topped the 300-run mark having scored 318-9 against Dambulla in the first league round match at the SSC.
Dickwella played an authoritative innings of 135 off 104 balls (17 fours, 2 sixes) with Udara (106 off 116 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) playing second fiddle put on 233 runs off 211 balls that laid the foundation for Kandy’s huge total.
Galle managed to pull back once the opening stand was broken capturing five wickets for 48 runs, but Kandy Skipper Kamindu Mendis struck an attractive half-century (58 off 41 balls, 2 sixes, 2 fours) and added 62 runs with Pulina Tharanga to further frustrate Galle for whom left-arm spinner Chalana de Silva stood out with 3 wickets for 38 off 10 overs.
Galle’s reply was derailed by Kandy’s principal spinners Pulina Tharanga and Ashian Daniel who between them captured seven wickets. Galle lost half their side for 119 in 20 overs with Daniel claiming four of the wickets for 23 in his first spell of seven overs. Vishad Randika (47) and Kavishka Anjula staged a recovery with a stand of 134 in 20 overs. But once Kamindu Mendis had Anjula caught for a well-constructed 90 off 71 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes), Tharanga ran through the rest of the batting as Galle folded up for 277 at the start of the 48th over.
National cricketer and Jaffna Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva rescued his team producing another fine all-round performance that enabled them beat Colombo by four wickets at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
De Silva took two wickets with his off-breaks and followed it up with an unbeaten 79 off 93 balls (8 fours) as Jaffna made heavy weather of chasing down a moderate target of 196 using up 47 overs. De Silva who came to the middle at the fall of the second wicket at 66 in the 16th over hung around till the end to see his team through to the final stringing up a partnership of 69 with Santhush Gunathilaka (30).
Colombo invited to bat first could come up with only a modest total of 195-8 with National cricketer Roshen Silva being the solitary batsman to put up any resistance scoring an undefeated 64 off 77 balls (5 fours). Colombo’s leading run scorer Nuwanidu Fernando, made a patient 37 off 61 balls as the eight Jaffna bowlers used, kept a tight leash on the run rate. National cricketers Nuwan Pradeep and de Silva picked up two wickets apiece.
Dunith Wellalage, the Sri Lanka U19 World Cup Captain appearing in his second match for Jaffna took the prize scalp of Colombo Skipper Sammu Ashan for 15 to finish with figures of one for 30 off seven overs.
Results
Jaffna Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva hits out during his unbeaten innings of 79 against Colombo
