Liyanage carries ODI form into NSL 4-day

Janith Liyanage of Jaffna gets runs on the off side watched by Kandy 

wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella

 Wanuja Sahan of Kandy celebrates with the wicket of Janith Liyanage on his way a three-wicket haul

Janith Liyanage carried his ODI form into the National Super League 4-day tournament when he scored a resolute 83 off 137 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) to help Jaffna total 261 on the opening day of their match against Kandy at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Fresh from making his maiden ODI century against Bangladesh four days ago, Liyanage helped Jaffna recover from being 92-3 to their final total where the next highest individual score was 34.

By stumps Kandy were not too happy, losing three wickets for 57 to trail by 204 runs.

In a match affected by rain and an early stoppage due to bad light, defending champions Dambulla invited to bat first by Colombo finished the day on 240-9 in the 64 overs bowled at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota. 

All-rounder Chamindu Wijesinghe rescued Dambulla from being dismissed below 200 with a fighting knock of 51 off 82 balls (6 fours, 1 six) and figuring in a 53-run stand for the eighth wicket with Naveen Fernando (25), after they had lost seven wickets for 177.

Nisala Tharaka, Isitha Wijesundara and Dasun Shanaka unsettled the Dambulla batting with their seam movement. Both matches will be continued on the second day today. – (ST)

FIRST DAY SCORES

+At R Premadasa Stadium: Jaffna 261 (Sandun Weerakkody 33, Ron Chandraguptha 34, Nipun Karunanayake 26, Janith Liyanage 83, Santhush Gunathilake 29, Nimsara Atharagalla 3/40, Wanuja Sahan 3/40)

Kandy 57-3 at close (Niroshan Dickwella 26)

+At Hambantota: Dambulla 240-9 at close (Lasith Croospulle 43, Sanoj Darshika 23, Pavan Ratnayake 35, Chamindu Wijesinghe 51, Naveen Fernando 25, Nisala Tharaka 3/77, Isitha Wijesundara 3/44, Dasun Shanaka 2/35) v Colombo