SLC NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE
By Srian Obeyesekere
Dambulla pulled off a magnificent improbable 4-wicket win over Kandy in reaching a a victory target of 392 consuming 64.5 overs in smashing Kandy’s box seat early domination with brilliant centuries by Nishan Madushka 126 off 153 balls with 7 boundaries and 2 sixes and one drop Dasun Shanaka, a whirlwind 100 off 56 with 72 of it showcased by hammering 6 over the top and 9 across in a 150-run second wicket bonding following an early assault 136 for the first wicket between Madushka and Ron Chandraguptha 64 off 89 heightened by 8 boundaries took when skipper Pathum Nissanka set the gauntlet declaring on 278 for 9 wickets from which point it was Dambulla all the way to a truly great victory in coming from behind yesterday at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
In a high scoring game when Kandy and Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka stroked a monumental 202 and Sohan de Livera 142 that gave their side the edge followed by their third century maker Pawantha Weerasinghe who made 101 off 173 (7×4, 1×6) in a second innings 278 for 9 declared, the trio of Madushka, Shanaka and Chandraguptha undid all that Kandy herculean batting feats by a faster run canter in making the difference. Following the 136 first wicket victory foundation, Madushka and Shanaka produced equally out of this world batting performances to taking Dambulla home. Shanaka, the former Sri Lanka white ball captain was in his element launching an all-out assault on Kandy in his breathtaking innings while Madushka went on to taking Dambulla as far as 324 when he was third out after Shanaka who exited with the score on 286. From there it was a formality for Dambulla despite losing first innings centurion skipper Dhananjaya de Silva for a duck with Vishad Randika striking a run a ball unbeaten 35 hitting 3 boundaries following Dinura Kalupahana and Sahan Kosala run a ball knocks of 24 and 23 respectively.
Meanwhile, the game between Jaffna and Galle ended in a draw with Jaffna taking the overnight 135 for 2 to 354 for 5 with Angelo Mathews coming to the show with century 103 off 167 balls hitting 9 boundaries and Niroshan Dickwella following up his blistering century last week with opening batsman Shevon Daniel 96 off 115 with 7 boundaries another compelling knock of 60 off 69 with 6 boundaries just short of 4 runs for a well-deserved century at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium. Thanuka Dabara weighed in with 44 off 42 with 3 sixes and 2 across.
Chief Scores:
Dambulla vs Kandy – Dambulla beat Kandy by 4 wkts.
Kandy 453 (Pathum Nissanka 202, Sohan de Livera 142, Ravindu Fernando 37, Pavantha Weerasibghe 20, Akila Dananjaya 5/140, Chamindu Wickramasnghe 3/59, Dinura Kalupahana 2/64)
And 278/9 decl. (70.5 Overs)
(Pawantha Weerasinghe 101, Ravindu Fernando 74, Sohan de Livera 32, Janishka Perera 27, Akila Dananjaya 5/87, Dulaj Samuditha 2/47, Dinura Kalupahana 1/17)
Dambulla 340 (84.4 Overs)
(Dhananjaya de Silva 108, Dasun Shanaka n.o. 63, Vishad Randika 40, Sahan Kosala 34, Nishan Madushka 31, Lasith Ebuldeniya 14, Shiran Fernando 3/42, Ashian Daniel 4/109, Lahiru Kumara 1/57, Sahan Nanayakkara 2/125)
And 392/6 (64.5 Overs)
(Nishan Madushka 126, Dasun Shanaka 100, Ron Chandraguptha 64, Vishad Randika 35, Dinura Kalupahana 24, Sahan Korala 23, Chamindu Wickramasinghe n.o. 2, Sahan Nanayakkara 3/115, Shiran Fernando 2/54,
Ashen Bandara 1/41)
Jaffna vs Galle
Jaffna 305 (69.1 Overs)
(Thanuja Dabare 81, Shevon Daniel 56, Janith Liyanage 28, Nimesh Vimukthi 16, Dilum Sudeera 5/60)
Nisala Tharaka 1/20, Ramesh Mendis 1/22)
And 354/5 (71 Overs)
(Angeo Mathews 103, Shevon Daniel 96, Niroshan Dickwella 60, Thanuka Dabare 44, Ravindu Rasantha 20, Nisala Tharaka 2/34, Ramesh Mendis 1/60, Dilum Sudeera 1/70, Nimsara Atharagalla 1/75)
Galle 371 (98 Overs)
(Ramesh Mendis 124, Dunith Wellalage 68, Oshada Fernando 67, Dinesh Chandimal 40, Nipun Dhananjaya 14, Sithum Dissanayake 3/57, Asanka Manoj 3/59, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/65, Chamika Karunaratne 2/100)
