The Kandy versus Dambulla fixture of the SLC National Super League Tournament fizzled out to a draw with Dambulla set 506 to win in two sessions, scoring 213 for 4 wickets at the Pallekelle International Stadium on Sunday.

It was a spirited ending for Dambulla having been dominated for a good part of the match.

Trailing Kandy by 230 runs on the first innings and its bowlers battered a second time to the tune of Kandy’s 278 for 9 declared, Dambulla did come up with an ace in the pack in Nimesh Gunasinghe who stroked a superb back to the wall unbeaten 102. It was a truly wholesome face saving effort by Gunasinghe in denying Kandy victory. He led from the front figuring in a 101-run first wicket partnership with Leo Franscisco who proved to be a game anchor scoring 48 with Lasith Abeyratne weighing in with 26.

Kandy’s skipper Kamindu Mendis would well be ruing his late declaration that dented victory as he batted on the fourth and final day in pursuit of the elusive three figure mark again getting so close but denied for a fifth time falling for 88. Also among thf runs for Kandy was Oshada Fernando with 63 in marking half tons in both innings while Theekshana de Silva made 34.