Final round of the Super Provincial four day cricket tournament 2018 commenced today with two matches being played at Dambulla and Hambanthota. Star players Angelo Mathews (Kandy), Thisara Perera (Colombo) and Kusal Janith Perera (Dambulla) returned to their respective provincial teams today.
Kandy vs Galle
Galle skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first on a batting friendly surface at Hambanthota. Right hander Madawa Warnapura and left hander Lahiru Milantha opened the batting for the Galle team but they could not get off to a good start as the latter was caught behind off the bowling of right arm seamer Lahiru Samarakoon for just 9 runs.
Experienced Upul Tharanaga could not stay at the crease for long as he was trapped in front by right arm seamer Lahiru Samarakoon for 2 runs. However, Madawa Warnapura and Sadeera Samarawickrama showed great resistance with the bat, building a 103-run partnership for the third wicket.
Madawa Warnapura made 66 runs off 118 balls which included 10 boundaries while Sadeera Samarawickrama stroked 40 runs off 66 balls with 5 boundaries. After their dismissals, in-form batsmen Roshen Silva and Dasun Shanaka who made a massive 202-run partnership in the first game against Colombo, built another 167-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Dasun Shanaka missed another century as he was caught behind off the bowling of Charith Asalanka for 90 runs. His innings came off 145 balls which included 12 fours and 1 six. Roshen Silva scored yet another century in the tournament as he remained unbeaten on 100 runs, which came off 165 balls including 9 boundaries.
Colombo vs Dambulla
Colombo skipper Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and decided to bat first at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. Left hander Shehan Jayasuriya and right hander Kaushal Silva opened the batting for the Colombo team but both were dismissed by right arm seamer Lahiru Madushanka within the first 10 overs.
The Visitors continued to lose wickets and at one stage were 52 runs for 5 wickets. However, young batsmen Wanidu Hasaranga and Lasith Abeyratne showed some resistance with the bat putting up a 75-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Wanidu Hasaranga scored a valuable 52 runs off 72 balls which included 7 fours. Lasith Abeyratne top scored with 85 runs off 107 balls which included 9 boundaries. Right arm seamer Lahiru Madushanka was instrumental in causing the batting collapse as he picked up 5 wickets for 43 runs.
In reply, Dambulla openers Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne got off to a solid start as they built a 47-run partnership for the first wicket. Kusal Mendis was dismissed by left arm seamer Dilesh Gunaratne for 24 runs and in the very next over he got the wicket of the skipper Dimuth Karunaratne for 19 runs.
In-form batsman Ashan Priyanjan lost his wicket in the last over of the day for 5 runs. Kusal Janith Perera remained unbeaten on 13 runs as the Dambulla team finished day one on 73 for 3.
