Set 160 to win in the final 90 minutes of play, Jaffna put up shutters after losing two early wickets on the fourth and final day of the Sri Lanka Cricket National Super League Tournament fixture that fizzled out to a draw at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium during the weekend.

Jaffna closed on 61 without further loss after the two early strikes by spinner Malinda Pushpakumara who sent back Navod Paranavithana for a duck and Samida Fernando for 06. Following the two setbacks at 2 for 16 Jaffna decided to give up hopes of racing against time with Nishan Madushka going on to finish on 32 and Dhananjaya de Silva on 23.

The final day began with Jaffna extending their overnight score of 354 for 7 to 379 for a first innings lead of 79. All three wickets were claimed by fast bowler Vishwa Fernando who returned the fine figures of 4 for 66. DIlum Sudeera went on to make 32.

Dambulla declared the second innings at 259 for the loss of 9 wickets with Ashan Priyanjan leading the way with a top score of 62 and skipper Minod Bhanuka stroking 48 followed by Leo Franscisco 46, Nimesha Gunasinghe 35 and Lasith Abeyratne 26. Dhananjaya de Silva was the pick of the bowlers for Jaffna with 3 for 44. Janith Liyanage took 2 for 26, Jeffrey Vandersay 2 for 63 and Dilum Sudeera 2 for 87.

CHIEF SCORES:

Dambulla 1st Innings 283 (99.5 Overs) (Lasith Abeyratne 68, Dushan Hemantha 63, Minod Bhanuka 53, Nuwan Pradeep 7/52) And 256/9 decl. (59 Overs) (Ashan Priyanjan 62, Minod Bhanuka 48, Leo Franscisco 46, Nimesha Gunasinghe 35, Lasith Abeyratne 26, Dhananjaya de Silva 3/44, Janith Liyanage 2/26, Dilum Sudeera 2/87, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/63)

Jaffna 1st Innings 354/7 O/N, 379 (122 Overs) (Nishan Madushka 69, Janith Liyanage 69, Samida Fernando 52, Avishka Tharindu 40, Dilum Sudeera 32, Navod Paranavithana 26, Geeth Kumar 26, Dhananjaya de Silva 25, Malinda Pushpakumara 4/121) And 61/2 (18 Overs) (Nishan Madushka n.o. 32, Dhananjaya de Silva n.o. 23, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/20)