Kaumal Nanayakkara and Lakshan Fernando star once again, as Colombo secured back to back wins in the ‘U23 Provincial’ Cricket Tournament. Dambulla meanwhile, held on to a draw against Galle which was concluded today.
Read: Colombo & Galle secure wins in U23 Provincial Cricket
Dambulla v Galle
It was a tame draw at the Panagoda Army grounds with Galle taking major honors against Dambulla in their 2nd match of the tournament. Dambulla won the toss and elected to bat first. Last week’s innings defeat meant that Dambulla had to come out with a strong performance today. But their batting was poor once again lasting only 40.2 over’s and managing to post only 126 runs. Dhananjaya Lakshan and Hareen Buddila were the chief destroyers with 3 wickets each for Galle.
Galle in response put together a strong batting performance. Dinuka Dilshan who made few cameos in their last game played a gem of a knock to help Galle post a massive 347 in their first innings. He remained unbeaten on 112, while Raminda Wijesuriya, Dhananjaya Lakshan and Hareen Buddila contributed with half centuries. Milan Rathnayake was the pick of the bowlers for Dambulla with figures of 4 for 78.
With a deficit of 221 runs, Dambulla came on to bat in the latter part of Day 3. It was matter of survival, and Dambulla had to bat better than they had in their last three innings. However, when bad light stopped play they were 149 for 6 in 36 over’s.
Result: Match drawn
Dambulla 126 (40.2 over’s) Geeth Perera 20, Keshan Wanniarachchi 17, Aravinda Akurugoda 19 Danajaya Lakshan 3/23, Hareen Buddila 3/31, Chanuka Dilshan 2/22 & 149/6 (36 over’s) Damith Perera 26, Asitha Gihan 25, Milan Rathnayaka 36, Chanuka Dilshan 2/47
Galle 347 (70 over’s) Dinuka Dilshan 112*, Raminda Wijesuriya 78, Dananjaya Lakshan 59, Hareen Buddila 59, Lahiru Dilshan 21, Milan Rathnayake 4/78, Damith Silva 3/64
Kandy v Colombo
Kaumal Nanayakkara and Lakshan Fernando scripted the second win for Colombo, as they beat Kandy by 6 wickets today at the BRC grounds. Kandy won the toss and elected to bat first. Former schoolmates at Prince of Wales, Savindu Pieris and Kaumal Nanayakkara bowled in tandem to restrict Kandy to 255 runs. Kaumal, who already has a 10-wicket haul under his name, bagged another 5 wickets, while Savindu grabbed 3 wickets. The spin duo tightened the screws after Madawa Nimesh and former Trinitian Dilan Jayalath laid the foundation for Kandy. Madawa top scored with 92 runs.
In response Colombo were bundled out for 224. Former Isipathanian Ayana Siriwardene scored a brisk 95, but the rest of the batsman failed to contribute, a repetition of the first game. Nimsara Attaragalla was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 49. Left arm pace bowler and former Trinitian, Thisaru Dilshan bagged 2 for 49.
The third innings of the match was what turned the tides around. With a slender lead of 31 runs, Kandy came out to bat in the latter part of the day 2. They were bamboozled by some fine leg spin bowling by Air Force player Lakshan Fernando. Lakshan together with Kaumal bundled out Kandy for a solitary 184 runs, which gave them a target of 216 runs to win. Lakshan bagged 7 for 50 while Kaumal took 2 for 41.
Colombo was under pressure after their below par performance in the first innings. But their inform batsman came to the party in the second innings. Akeel Inham and Himasha Liyanage laid the foundation with half centuries at the top of the order. Inham went on to remain unbeaten on 84, and together with Yesith Upaman they got over the line with 6 wickets in hand.
Result: Colombo won by 6 wickets.
Kandy 255 (71.5 over’s) Madawa Nimesh 92, Dilan Jayalath 46, Krishan Sanjula 46, Kaumal Nanayakkara 5/67, Savindu Pieris 3/48, Shehan Sandaruwan 2/52 & 184 (52 over’s) T M U Prakrama 38, Thisaru Dilshan 34, Thanuka Dabare 32, Dilan Jayalath 27, Lakshan Fernando 7/50, Kaumal Nanayakkara 2/41
Colombo 224 (66 over’s) Ayana Siriwardane 95, Malinga Amarasinghe 26, Himasha Liyanage 22, Nimsara Attaragalla 3/49, Nimesh Mendis 2/43, Tiron Sivakumar 2/47, Thisaru Dilshan 2/49 & 216/4 (55.4) Akeel Inham 84*, Himasha Liyanage 65, Yesith Upaman 54*, Thanuka Dabare 2/25
