Kandy suffer first defeat and Dambulla their third in a row

Young stars Nuwanidu Fernando and Nipun Dananjaya shone for Colombo in their six wickets win over Kandy

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Kandy suffered their first defeat in the ongoing National Super League Limited Over tournament when they went down to Colombo by six wickets, while Dambulla continued to stumble as they suffered their third consecutive loss losing to Galle by three wickets, that left the southern team as the only unbeaten side so far with two wins out of two in the matches concluded yesterday.

Half-centuries from national Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwanidu Fernando and Nipun Dananjaya saw Colombo chase down Kandy’s total of 271 and win by six wickets with 11 balls to spare at the P Sara Oval.

Karunaratne leading Colombo in the absence of the appointed Captain and Vice-Captain Dasun Shanaka and Charith Asalanka, struck a run a ball 59 (8 fours) to set up an opening partnership of 80 with Sithara Gimhan (37). Fernando and Dananjaya then took over in a stand of 111 for the third wicket that saw them come within 50 runs of the target. Ashen Bandara put the finishing touches to the innings with an enterprising innings of 33* off 26 balls. Fernando scored 67 off 84 balls (6 fours) and Dananjaya an unbeaten 70 off 79 balls (4 fours, 1 six).

Dambulla captained by batting all-rounder Ashan Priyanjan continued their lean run in the tournament when they suffered their third straight loss losing by three wickets to Galle at the SSC grounds. It has been Dambulla’s inability to put enough runs on the board that has led to their defeats and yesterday was no exception as they could garner only 165, which is their highest in the tournament so far, after being invited to bat first.

Dambulla would have been in a worse plight had it not been for some resistance put up by Sri Lanka wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan who clobbered a career-best 34 off 52 balls in a last wicket stand of 58 with Vishwa Fernando (14*) that lifted them from a despairing 107-9 to 165. Seamers Heshan Hettiarachchi and Dhananjaya Lakshan took six wickets between them.

Galle were in some sort of trouble during their run chase losing half the side for 72, but a belligerent knock of 49 off 38 balls (inclusive of five sixes) by Ashan Randika and a patient innings of 37* off 66 balls from Muditha Lakshan saw them over the line with three wickets to spare. Dhananjaya Lakshan had a good game capturing three wickets and opening the batting scoring 32 off 29 balls. 

RESULTS

At P Sara Oval: Colombo beat Kandy by 6 wickets.

Kandy 271 (50) (Lasith Croospulle 33, Kamindu Mendis 35, Sahan Arachchige 86, Thikshila de Silva 27, Pulina Tharanga 36, Kalana Perera 3/40, Lahiru Madushanka 4/54, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/45)

Colombo 274-4 (48.1) (Sithara Gimhan 37, Dimuth Karunaratne 59, Nuwanidu Fernando 67, Nipun Dananjaya 70*, Ashen Bandara 33*, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/48)

At SSC: Galle beat Dambulla by 3 wickets.

Dambulla 165 (49.3) (Pavan Ratnayake 44, Dushan Hemantha 25, Lakshan Sandakan 34, Heshan Hettiarachchi 3/31, Dhananjaya Lakshan 3/40, Muditha Lakshan 2/23)

Galle 166-7 (34.2) (Dhananjaya Lakshan 32, Ashan Randika 49, Muditha Lakshan 37*, Lahiru Samarakoon 3/37, Ashan Priyanjan 2/38)  

Dhananjaya Lakshan had a good match for Galle scoring 32 and capturing three wickets against Dambulla