By Srian Obeyesekere

One drop Lakshan Dhananjaya produced a fine all-round 5 for 99 and a quick fire unbeaten 53 off 49 balls filled with 8 boundaries as Colombo ended the second day’s play on 85 for 1 wicket in 17.1 overs in reply to Galle’s 435 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Galle took their overnight score of 265 for 7 wickets with skipper Ramesh Mendis adding a further 16 to his overnight 56, but Galle’s stars to the show were the tail end No.9 Nisala Tharaka, with a defining knock of 76 and off 159 balls packed with 8 boundaries and Dilum Sudeera 66 off 118 backed with 7 fours in a ninth wicket partnership that took Galle past the 400 mark to a compatible first innings total.

Dhananjaya Lakshan was to follow up his 5-wicket take wth a rescusing half century after Colombo had a bad start losing opener Asitha Wanninayake for a second ball duck leg before wicket to Nisala Tharaka.

CHIEF SCORES

Galle vs Colombo
Galle 435 (136.2 Overs)
(Dinesh Chandimal 132, Nisala Tharaka 76, Ramesh Mendis 72, Dilum Sudeera 66, Dhananjaya Lakshan 5/99, Sanoj Darshika 1/28, Pramod Madushan 1/65, Akmal Fazly 1/67, Prabath Jayasuriya 1/83)
Colombo 85/1 (17.1 Overs)
(Dhananjaya Lakshan n.o. 53, Avishka Fernando n.o. 28, Nisala Tharaka 1/27)