Kandy crush Colombo with a day to spare
After conceding a first innings lead to Colombo, Kandy retaliated with a vengeance, claiming an outright win by 7 wickets with a day to spare in the four-day National Super League match at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Pathum Nissanka, unbeaten on 151, and Wanuja Sahan (59 and 4/45) turned the game in favour of Kandy. When play began on day three, with Kandy resuming from their overnight score of 241 for 5, the pair added a further 34 runs before being separated. Nissanka hit 21 boundaries and a six, and Sahan, who scored his half century with ten boundaries, helped Kandy declare their innings at 320 for 9.
Sahan then dismantled the Colombo batting lineup, claiming three early wickets, leaving them struggling at 17 for 4, and eventually at 19 for 6, succumbing to Nimsara Aththaragalla and Shevon Daniel.
The late-order batting failed to make an impression as the Colombo team was dismissed for a mere 102 runs. Sahan ended with four scalps, while Daniel and Aththaragalla shared five wickets, causing significant damage.
Chasing 160 runs for victory, Kandy was supported by an unbeaten knock of 76 by Kasun Vidura, who shared two valuable partnerships — first a 56-run stand for the second wicket with Kamil Mishara and an unbroken 55-run partnership with Sahan Arachchige, propelling them to the target with ease.
Meanwhile, in the other match played at the Sooriyawewa Stadium, Galle positioned themselves strongly against Dambulla, putting themselves in a position to secure an outright win as play concluded on day three.
Dambulla, in response to Galle’s massive score of 519 for 7 declared, was bowled out for 269 runs and made to follow on with a deficit of 250 runs, they ended the day at 86 for 2, needing a further 164 runs to avoid an innings defeat when play begins on the final day today.
| Results: | |
Colombo 377 all out (Pathum Kumara 101, Lakshitha Manasinghe 79, Dhananjaya 56, Nuwanidu Fernando 46, Krishan Sanjula 31: Wanuja Sahan 3/88, Nimsara Aththaragalla 2/72, Sithum Dissanayake 2/78, Ashian Daniel 2/81) and 102 all out (Lakshitha Manasinghe 29, Isitha Wijesundara 26, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 22: Wanuja Sahan 4/45, Ashian Daniel 3/27, Nimsara Aththaragalla 2/26) Kandy (241/5 o’night) 320 for 9 decl (Pathum Nissanka 151, Wanuja Sahan 59, Kasun Vidura 33: Nuwanidu Fernando 3/26, Nisala Tharaka 2/86) and 160 for 3 at close (Pathum Nissanka 29, Kamil Mishara 22, Kasun Vidura 76n.o., Sahan Arachchige 21n.o.)
Galle 519 for 7 decl (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 148, Oshada Fernando 127, Lakshan Edirisinghe 78, Dhananjaya Lakshan 69, Mohamed Shamaaz 46, Nimesh Vimukthi 26n.o.: Chamindu Wijesinghe 3/70) Dambulla (117/2 o’night) 269 all out (Sanoj Dharshika 63, Pavan Ratnayake 63, Miod Bhanuka 56, Ranesh Silva 33: Nishan Peiris 5/72, Nimesh Vimukthi 4/48) and 86 for 2 at stumps (Ranesh Silva 26, Sanoj Dharshika 26n.o.) |