Two games of the Dialog-SLC National Super League 2022 came to a close yesterday (1st). Jaffna defeated Colombo at SSC while Kandy got the better of Galle.
Colombo vs Jaffna
Ashen Bandara led the batting for the Colombo team with a fighting 75 runs, coming in the lower order.
A couple of 40-plus scores from Sammu Ashan (43) and Lahiru Madushanka (42) to support Bandara put the Colombo team well on course for a fine total at the end of their innings.
Nimanda Subasinghe was the stand-out bowler for the Jaffna team as the right-arm seamer bagged 4 scalps for 39 runs.
Having posted 248 runs on the board, Colombo looked relieved only to find themselves in the firing line very soon.
Jaffna openers Sadeera Samarawickrama and Lahiru Thirimanne snatched the game away from the Colombo team very early into their chase as the pair put on a 91-run stand for the first wicket.
Thirimanne scored his second fifty of the tournament while his opening partner Samarawickrama saw the innings through to victory with an unbeaten 91 runs.
Ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake was impressive in his 10 overs, picking up 2 wickets for 56 runs.
Brief Scores
Colombo 247/8 (50) Ashen Bandara 75, Sammu Ashan 43, Lahiru Madushanka 42, Nimanda Subasinghe 4/39
Jaffna 248/4 (46.4) Sadeera Samarawickrama 91*, Lahiru Thirimanne 52, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/56
Jaffna won by 6 wickets
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Kandy vs Galle
Batting first, Kandy posted a formidable total of 269 runs on the board, thanks to a complete performance from their top-order.
Lahiru Udara was the top-scorer of the lot with a well-made 63 to give a positive start to his team.
The only centurion of the tournament so far, Oshada Fernando, added another half-century to his tally.
A seasoned campaigner in Sri Lanka’s domestic scene, Akila Dananjaya, made his presence felt in the tournament for the first time, with a fifer to his name.
In reply, it was a rather dismal effort with the bat from the Galle team. They were bowled out for just 173 runs in 42.2 overs.
The major wrecker for Kandy was the exciting leg spinner, Pulina Tharanga, who bagged 6 scalps for 29 runs. He absolutely stunned the Galle batters as they kept tumbling one after the other.
Only Pabasara Waduge managed a noteworthy knock with the bat for the Galle team as the opener made 50 runs off 88 deliveries.
With that win, Kandy jumped to the top of the table with 15 points so far in the tournament with Jaffna just a point behind them.
Brief scores
Kandy 269 (47.3) Lahiru Udara 63, Oshada Fernando 56, Niroshan Dickwella 46, Lasith Croospulle 46, Akila Dananjaya 5/61
Galle 173 (42.2) Pabasara Waduge 50, Pulina Tharanga 6/29, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/3
Kandy won by 96 runs
. Jaffna defeated Colombo at SSC while Kandy got the better of Galle.){kind=link}