Last year’s finalists Galle, Dambulla make winning starts

Nishan Madushka and Kavin Bandara both made centuries for Dambulla

5th National Super League 4-day tournament

Finalists of last year Galle and Dambulla began the 5th National Super League 4-day tournament on a successful note registering first innings wins in the first weekend of matches which concluded yesterday.

Galle came within a whisker of starting the defence of their title with an outright win, but were denied it by Kandy’s last pair Jeffrey Vandersay (23* off 37 balls) and Dulaj Samuditha (8* off 11) who defied five overs to force a draw at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. Galle who gained a first innings lead of 51, were all out for 262 in their second innings after resuming at 206-8, leaving Kandy with the task of chasing 314 in a minimum of 79 overs for a win. Dilum Sudeera contributed most to the Galle total with a fighting knock of 56 off 125 balls (6 fours).

Kandy began well with openers Lahiru Udara (41) and Sohan de Livera (28) posting 62 for the first wicket. At one stage Kandy were 155-3. But fast bowler Isitha Wijesundara struck two telling blows in the 37th over sending back Ashen Bandara and Chamika Heenatigala both to catches behind the wicket to Niroshan Dickwella which curbed the run chase and it came to a question of survival. Kandy slumped further to 182-7 in a matter of five overs when seamer Asanka Manoj trapped both Chamika Karunaratne and Tharindu Rathnayake lbw in the 42nd over. Further disaster was to follow when Pawantha Weerasinghe who was holding the innings together was out caught with his score at 61 (90 balls, 7 fours). It was only a matter of time for Galle to wrap up the Kandy innings but for staunch resistance from the tailenders that saw them finish on 229-9.

Colombo fell short by 19 runs to overhaul Dambulla’s first innings total of 408 when they were dismissed for 390 in their match which ended in a first innings win for Dambulla at the R Premadasa Stadium. Colombo began at 366-8 requiring another 43 runs to overhaul Dambulla’s total. A lot depended on Charith Asalanka if they were to achieve that. But after adding 15 to his overnight score Asalanka was the last to be dismissed for 67 (160 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) offering a catch off left-arm spinner Shakthi Udara who finished with figures of 4/97. In the remaining 76 overs Dambulla made merry to pile up some useful batting points reaching 266-1 with Nishan Madushanka and Kavin Bandara both completing unbeaten hundreds. Madushanka followed his first innings 97 with 107* scored off 232 balls (6 fours) and Bandara made 100* off 156 balls (8 fours). The pair put together an unbroken second wicket stand of 185.

The tournament will resume on 19 April after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. (ST)

RESULTS

At Rangiri Dambulla Stadium: Match Drawn. Galle won on first innings

Galle 260 and 262 (o/n 206-8) (Sadeera Samarawickrama 76, Oshada Fernando 55, Dilum Sudeera 56, Chamika Karunaratne 3/28, Dulaj Samuditha 2/47, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/57)

Kandy 209 and 229-9 (Lahiru Udara 41, Sohan de Livera 28, Pawantha Weerasinghe 61, Ashen Bandara 20, Jeffrey Vandersay 23*, Isitha Wijesundara 2/34, Asanka Manoj 3/60, Ramesh Mendis 2/26)

At R Premadasa Stadium: Match Drawn. Dambulla won on first innings

Dambulla 408 and 266-1 (Nishan Madushka 107*, Thanuka Dabare 44, Kavin Bandara 100*)

Colombo 390 (o/n 366-8) (Ravindu Rasantha 69, Tharindu Amarasinghe 52, Dhananjaya Lakshan 53, Prabath Jayasuriya 54, Janith Liyanage 47, Charith Asalanka 67, Kavindu Pathiratne 2/68, Akila Dananjaya 3/90, Shakthi Udara 4/97)