Kandy start on winning note, Colombo bounce back from defeat

Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka saw Colombo home with half-centuries apiece against Dambulla

Kandy, coming out for the first time in the National Super League Limited Over tournament, started off on a winning note, beating Jaffna by six wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday. In the other game down for decision at the P. Sara Oval, Dambulla suffered their second defeat, losing by seven wickets to Colombo.

Kandy, led by the young Kamindu Mendis, made a winning start, coming out with all guns blazing to beat Jaffna by six wickets with more than ten overs to spare.

Electing to field first, Kandy kept Jaffna down to a total of 246/8, the principal scorers being Lahiru Thirimanne with 56 off 74 balls, Janith Liyanage (41) and Santhush Gunathilaka (45). A 105-run opening stand between Sri Lanka white-ball discard Niroshan Dickwella (69 off 45 balls, four sixes, seven fours) and Pathum Nissanka (32) laid the foundation for Kandy’s successful run chase, with Kamil Mishara 34 (selected for the tour to Australia) and Kamindu Mendis (57* off 45 balls) and Sahan Arachchige (28*) putting the finishing touches to the win.

Colombo bounced back from their loss to Galle in the opening fixture to trounce Dambulla by seven wickets. For Dambulla, it was their second straight defeat in the tournament, having lost earlier to Jaffna. Once again, it was Dambulla's batting that let them down, totaling a disappointing 143 off 40 overs after winning the toss and deciding to bat first. After Kalana Perera, who recovered from testing positive for COVID-19, got the initial breakthrough by sending back openers Gayan Maneeshan and Ron Chandraguptha for 0 and 6 respectively, the rest of the batting struggled against the spin of left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya and acting captain Charith Asalanka, who took five wickets between them.

The strong Colombo side, despite losing Danushka Gunathilaka (6) and Avishka Fernando (12) cheaply, had enough firepower left in the batting to overhaul Dambulla’s total.

Kusal Mendis (67 off 44 balls, four sixes, six fours) and Asalanka (52* off 46 balls, eight fours) saw them home with plenty to spare. – (ST)

RESULTS

• At P. Sara Oval: Dambulla 143 (40) (Lasith Abeyratne 41, Ashan Priyanjan 31, Kalana Perera 2/18, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/35, Charith Asalanka 2/19) lost to Colombo 144/3 (20.4) (Kusal Mendis 67, Charith Asalanka 52*) by seven wickets.
• At SSC: Jaffna 246/8 (50) (Lahiru Thirimanne 56, Dhananjaya de Silva 28, Janith Liyanage 41, Santhush Gunathilaka 45, Asitha Fernando 2/51, Nipun Ransika 3/41, Pulina Tharanga 2/44) lost to Kandy 247/4 (39.4) (Niroshan Dickwella 69, Pathum Nissanka 32, Kamil Mishara 34, Kamindu Mendis 57*, Sahan Arachchige 28*, Shiran Fernando 2/33) by six wickets.