Ahan Wickremesinghe n.o. 51, Nisala Tharaka 82 in Colombo’s 405, Galle 131/2 Lakshan Edirisinghe n.o. 52, Angelo Matthews n.o. 32, Tharindu Ratnayake 1/25, Udith Madushan 1/32)
Jaffna”s 27-year old right hander Janith Liyanage stole the limelight stroking a superb 129 off 150 balls studded with 16 boundaries and a six in a total of 245 accounting for more than half of the side’s score in reply to Kandy’s 265 on the second day of their Sri Lanka Cricket National Super League 2023 encounter at the SSC Grounds yesterday. It was a great effort by the former Peterite and Ragama CC player in rallying his side out of troubled water’s. Kandy was on 172 for 6 in the second innings and led with an overall lead of 193.with Ahan Wickremesinghe stroking an unbeaten 51 off 59. Wickremesinghe, the former Royalist once again on song following up his first innings century with the onus on him to give his side a 250 plus total to go for a decision. Kandy’s Shashrika Dilshan took 4 for 53.
Meanwhile, Nisala Tharaka struck a timely 82 off 166 balls inclusive of 7 boundaries in helping Colombo to a formidable 405 from an overnight 287 for 6 against Galle at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota. Galle responded with 132 for 2 with Lakshan Edirisinghe unbeaten on 52 off 106 hitting 6 boundaries and a six with former Sri Lanka captain veteran batsman Angelo Matthews on 32 off 74 containing 3 boundaries.
CHIEF SCORES: Kandy 265 & 172/6 (Ahan Wickremesinghe n.o. 51, Kasun Vidura 29, Oshada Fernando 27, Niroshan Dickwella 25, Thanuka Dabare 21, Wanuja Sahan n.o. 12, Amish De Silva n.o. 3, Shashrika Dilshan 4/53, Binura Fernando 1/17, Dhananjaya de Silva 1/26) Jaffna 245′ (65.1 Overs) (Janith Liyanage 129, Shashika Dilshan 15, Dhananjaya de Silva 12, Ravindu Fernando 12, Kavindu Pathiratne n.o. 8, Wanuja Sahan 3/50, Lahiru Kumara 3/52, Amish. De Silva 2/60, Nimsara Atharagala 1/39)