National Super League 4-day Cricket – Kandy vs Jaffna Final
Sports
Dhammika Ratnaweera
Jaffna leg spinner Dilum Sudeera, who took 4 for 86, in action.
Tags:
Print Edition
Kandy scored a formidable total of 444 (all out) as rain suspended the play with 27 overs to spare on the second day Jaffna made 42 for 1 wicket at close in their National Super League final cricket fixture played at Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Kandy, 288/2 overnight, progressed Kandy to 399/8 at lunch as Jaffna spinners fought back strongly on the second day to capture six wickets during the first session.
The overnight batters Oshada Fernando and skipper Kamindu Mendis were the two successful stroke-makers adding a 188-run third-wicket stand while Oshada was able to score his fourth century of the tournament, hitting 109 in 154 balls with 12 fours and a six. Kamindu missed his fifth century of the tournament, 13 runs away from a well-deserved century. Left-hander, Kamindu Mendis was out for 87 in 167 balls with 7 fours and young leg-spinner Dilum Sudeera made an early breakthrough to pick both overnight batters’ wickets which gave a boost for the Jaffna team early in the morning session.
Niroshan Dickwella, wicketkeeper/batter, scored 32 in 48 balls with 2 fours while Pulina Tharanga the spin all-rounder who came to the wicket at number eight scored a useful 43 runs in 82 balls to pass the 400th mark for the Kandy team. Tharanga played more in an aggressive mood hitting four sixes and three sixes when he decided to take leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay. Dilum Sudeera, the 21-year-old leg spinner was the most successful Jaffna bowler taking 4 for 86 in 31.2 overs with skipper Dhanajaya de Silva (3 for 96) and Vandersay (2 for 97) giving good supporting roles. The 19-year-old leggie Dunith Wellalage finished with 1 for 49 as the Jaffna spinners shared all ten wickets between them.
Jaffna’s first innings saw their openers, Navod Paranavithana (13) and Nishan Madushka (24*) adding an opening 38-run stand with leg spinner Lasith Embuldeniya who opened the attack with a new ball took Paranavithna’s wicket in the 17th over of the innings. Nishan Madushka who scored 24 in 54 balls with 2 fours and in-form batter Saminda Fernando (2) were at the wicket before being halted due to bad weather. Jaffna trail by 402 runs with 8 wickets in hand in their first innings.
Chief scores
Kandy: 444 all out (Kamil Mishara 56, Kasun Vidura 71, Oshada Fernando 109, Kamindu Mendis 87, Niroshan Dickwella 32, Pulina Tharanga 43, Dhananajaya de Silva 3/96, Dilum Sudeera 4/86, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/97) Jaffna: 42/1 at close (Nishan Madushka 24*, Lasith Embuldeniya 1/25)
Saturday, April 9, 2022 – 01:00
