By Srian Obeyesekere

Kandy and Sri Lanka opening batsman Pathum Nissanka shrugged off a recent form rut to hammering an unbeaten 160 off 200 balls hitting 15 boundaries in sharing in an unfinished fifth wicket 198-run bonding with Sohan de Livera who was on a forceful 110 off 136 inclusive of 12 boundaries in a sword edge score of 322 for 4 wickets against Dambulla on the opening day of their Sri Lanka Cricket National Super League match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Nissanka and Livera came together with Kandy on 4 for 124 in steering Kandy from a shaky start when off spinner Akila Dananjaya threatened to run through the side grabbing 3 wickets.

Meanwhile, Jaffna totaled a satisfactory 305 versus Galle on the opening day with Thanuka Dabare top scoring with a stroke filled run a ball 81 hitting 3 sixes and 7 boundaries with opening batsman Shevon Daniel striking a compact 56 off 88 containing 8 boundaries at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

Galle’s Dilum Sudeera had a pleasing 5-wicket haul for 60 runs.

Galle were 35 for the loss of Nipun Dhananjaya leg before wicket to Sithum Dissanayake for 14 with Oshada Fernando on 13 at stumps.

Chief Scores:

Kandy vs Dambulla
Kandy 322/4 (71 Overs)
(Pathum Nissanka n o. 160, Sohan de Livera n.o. 110, Pavantha Weerasibghe 20, Akila Dananjaya 3/102, Dinura Kalupahana 1/43)

Jaffna vs Galle
Jaffna 305 (69.1 Overs)
(Thanuja Dabare 81, Shevon Daniel 56, Janith Liyanage 28, Nimesh Vimukthi 16, Dilum Sudeera 5/60)

Galle 35/1 (6.4 Overs)
(Nipun Dhananjaya 14, Oshada Fernando n.o. 13, Sithum Dissanayake 1/9)