By Srian Obeyesekere
Galle’s Dunith Wellalage rocked Dambulla towards certain defeat reeling on 27 for 6 wickets chasing 251 as the mesmerizing Sri Lankan cap grabbed 4 wickets for 3 runs in just 3 overs on the penultimate day of the 4-day Sri Lanka Cricket National Super League Tournament match yesterday at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Wellalage’s strikes included the prize wicket of Sri Lanka test captain Dhananjaya de Silva following a fourth ball duck unable to reproduce his first innings century magic, caught by his opposite number Pasindu Sooriyabandara, and the other victims Lasith Embuldeniyaa and Pavan Rathnayake clean bowled for 2 and a duck respectfully and going on to snap up Sonal Dinusha for a duck caught by D.K.A.L. Perera.
Wellalage reigned in following the upfront double strikes by Dilum Sudeera who sent back Nushan Madushka for 4 spooning to Supriyabandara, and Ron Chandraguptha for 4 held by Oshada Fernando.
Meanwhile, Colombo was on 85 for 1 wicket chasing a mammoth victory target of 599 set by Kandy following their first innings debilitation for 106 at stumps on the third day at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa, Hambantota yesterday.
Avishka Fernando was on 52 off 91 balls hitting 4 boundaries, and Dhananjaya Lakshan on 17 off 60 with 3 boundaries as the second wicket pair fought to offset the loss of Navod Paemranavithana bowled by Mohamed Dilshad for 15 after Kandy had declared their second innings at 244 for 3 on a brilliant century of exactly 100 by the hard hitting Nuwanidu Fernando off 111 balls stroking 7 boundaries and 2 over the top. Skipper Sahan Arachchige was unbeaten on 29 when he declared in that victory thrust.
CHIEF SCORES
Galle vs Dambulla
Galle 267 & 244
(Ramesh Mendis 56, Dunith Wellalage 46, Oshada Fernando 44, Nipun Dhananjaya 27, Dinesh Chandimal 23, Avishka Perera 16, Milan Rathnayake 13, Akila Dananjaya 5/80, Lasith Embuldeniya 3/78, Sonal Dinusha 1/19)
Dambulla 261
(Dhananjaya de Silva 106, Lasith Embuldeniya 54, Sonal Dinusha 39, Pavan Rathnayake 4/57, Ron Chandraguptha 3/57)
And 27/6
(Dunith Wellalage 4/3, Dilum Sudeera 2/10)
Kandy vs Colombo
Kandy 460 And 244/3 decl.
(Nuwanidu Fernando 100, Sahan Arachchige n.o. 29)
Colombo 106 And 85/1
(Avishka Fernando n.o. 52, Dhananjaya Lakshan n.o. 17)
