Shanaka rescues Colombo with 11th first-class hundred

Pasindu Sooriyabandara scored 83 for Galle against Dambulla 

Colombo’s Dasun Shanaka celebrates his 11th first-class century against Kandy

Kandy pacie Sithum Dissanayake celebrates taking one of his three Colombo wickets

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka’s former white ball captain Dasun Shanaka rescued wooden spoonists Colombo with his 11th first-class century scoring a cultured 110 off 138 balls (14 fours) on the opening day of their National Super League 4-day match against table toppers Kandy at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Invited to bat first, Colombo found themselves in some kind of trouble losing their first five wickets for 103 before Shanaka with the lower order and tail took the score to a respectable 330-8 by the close. Shanaka figured in partnerships of 118 for the sixth wicket with Himasha Liyanage (46) and 62 for the seventh with Dunith Wellalage (37) to pull Colombo out of the rut. Kandy’s new ball bowlers Sithum Disanayaka and Nimsara Atharagalla creamed off the top five batters in the Colombo line-up.

Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Vishad Randika shared a fifth wicket stand of 147 to steer second placed Galle to 286-5 at the close of the first day of their match against defending champions Dambulla at the Galle Stadium.

Dambulla’s seamers Mohamed Shiraz, Naveen Fernando and Dilshan Abeysinghe captured the first four wickets for 93 before Sooriyabandara and Randika came together in partnership. Sooriyabandara struck four fours in a solid display of batting to score 83 off 192 balls. Randika hit eight fours in scoring an undefeated 89 off 141 balls.

Both matches will be continued on the second day today.

DAY ONE SCORES

• At R. Premadasa Stadium: Colombo 330-8 at close (Nipun Dananjaya 31, Priyamal Perera 27, Dasun Shanaka 110, Himasha Liyanage 46, Dunith Wellalage 37, Nisala Tharaka 21*, Sithum Disanayaka 3/58, Nimsara Atharagalla 2/52) v Kandy
• At Galle Stadium: Galle 286-5 at close (Oshada Fernando 22, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 83, Vishad Randika 89*, Nimesh Vimukthi 34*, Dilshan Abeysinghe 2/38) v Dambulla