By Srian Obeyesekere
Galle swept Dambulla by 145 runs yesterday in their Sri Lanka Cricket National Super League fixture on the fourth and final day with Sri Lankan cap Dunith Wellalage mesmerizing his way to a 6-wicket haul for 26 runs and Dilum Sudeera 4 for 48 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Dambulla, reeling on an overnight 26 for 6 was bowled out for 105 with Wellalage adding two more to his 4 wickets for 3 runs the previous day while Sudeera accounted for the other two in finishing with a 4 wicket haul for 48 runs with No.8 Akila Dananjaya riding defeat with a quick 28 off 35 balls his side past the 100 mark being one of two batsmen to reach double figures 2 boundaries and a six in taking his side past the 100 mark being one of two batsmen to reach double figures.
Meanwhile, Colombo did well to force a draw in finishing the final day on a healthy 313 for 7 chasing an unlikely target of 599 with the two Sri Lanka caps Avishka Fernando and skipper skipper Charith Asalanka, who is leading Colombo as well leading the way with handsome knocks of 74 and 65 respectively in making amends for the first innings 106 dismal performance that left them chasing a mammoth 599 victory target I the face of Kandy’s 460 and 244 for 3 declared at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota.
Fernando struck 6 boundaries in his 141-ball knock while Asalanka reigned in with 9 boundaries and a six in a 93-ball defining knock to taking his side out of the rut in squaring things with an honourable draw.
Asalanka shared in a game changing 106-run fifth wicket pattneship with Lahiru Madushanka who made 39 off 100 with 5 boundaries in overcoming a 143 for 4 down sliding while the eighth-wicket pair of Shehan Fernando 39 off 112 with 2 fours and Kasun Rajitha a dogged 16 off 67 with the solitary boundary holding strong in an unfinished 55 bonding to taking Colombo to safety when Kandy looked like pulling off the match.
CHIEF SCORES:
Galle vs Dambulla
Galle 267 and 244
Dambulla 261 and 105
(Akila Dananjaya 28, Sahan Korala 25, Dunith Wellalage 6/26, Dilum Sudeera 4/48)
Kandy vs Colombo
Kandy 460 And 2443 decl.
(Nuwanidu Fernando n.o. 100, Janishka Perera 93, Sahan Arachchige n.o. 29, Pathum Nissanka 18,
Lahiru Madushanka 1/19, Nishan Peiris 1/41, Navod Paranavithana 1/73)
Colombo 106 And 313/7
(Avishka Fernando 74, Charith Asalanka 65, Lahiru Madushanka 39, Shehan Fernando n.o. 39, Kasun Rajitha n.o. 16, Sahan Nanayakkara 3/76, Shiran Fernando 2/59, Mohamed Dilshad 1/40, Ravindu Fernando 1/85)
