Karunaratne (89) carries Bangladesh form into NSL 4-day tournament

Colombo’s Dimuth Karunaratne made his third score of over fifty in as many matches

 Ranesh Silva’s second first-class century helped Dambulla to 263-5   

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Former Sri Lanka Test Captain Dimuth Karunaratne carried his Test batting form from Bangladesh to the National Super League 4-day tournament when he hit a cultured 89 off 145 balls (14 fours) to enable Colombo total 296 on the opening day of their match against table toppers Galle at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

Karunaratne made 52 in the first Test and 86 in the second against Bangladesh helping Sri Lanka make a 2-0 series sweep of the two Tests.

No one else made more than 38 in Colombo’s innings as the rest of the batting was consumed by Galle’s seam and spin combination. By stumps Galle had lost an early wicket of Sangeeth Cooray to be 3-1.

At the Pallekele Cricket Stadium, former Thurstan College cricketer Ranesh Silva scored his second first-class hundred (100 off 176 balls, 9 fours) and shared a second wicket partnership of 179 with Sanoj Darshika (69 off 202 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) to help Dambulla end the first day on 263-5 against Jaffna.

Once the stand was broken Dambulla lost three quick wickets for seven runs before acting captain Sonal Dinusha restored some order with a swashbuckling 37* off 41 balls (3 fours). So far extras have contributed 28 runs to the total.

Both matches will continue on its second day today.

First Day Scores

• At Dambulla: Colombo 296 (Dimuth Karunaratne 89, Nipun Dhananjaya 29, Dinura Kalupahana 27, Nisala Tharaka 38, Isitha Wijesundera 37, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/41, Ramesh Mendis 2/73, Asanka Manoj 3/70)

Galle 3-1 at close.

• At Pallekele: Dambulla 263-5 at close (Sanoj Darshika 69, Ranesh Silva 100, Sonal Dinusha 37*, Dilum Sudeera 2/72) v Jaffna