Sachithra Serasinghe steals limelight with fine ton for Dambulla; Rain a spoiler in drawn matches

SLC SUPER PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT

Rain was a damper to this week’s two Super Provincial Tournament matches between Dambulla and Galle and Kandy and Galle respectively. The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) matches played with the pink ball inevitably ended in no decisions.

However, this high profile tournament that pitted the cream of talent in four-day fixtures aimed at raising domestic talent to international standards did produce a century making hero with the bat in Dambulla’s all-rounder Sachithra Serasinghe. The 30-year old Colts CC player who has made quite an impact with the bat and ball as a medium paceman, certainly raised his stock with a typical knock befitting a four-day encounter at Dambulla. Despite the vagaries of the rain interruptions, Serasinghe struck 112 off 208 balls inclusive of 13 boundaries in Dambulla’s second innings total of 325 for 7 declared in showcasing good staying temperament. Equal to the task was Ashan Priyanjan who made 95 off 169 balls with 9 boundaries sharing in a 142-run alliance for the second wicket. That was after Galle made 255 in reply to Dambulla’s first innings total of 244. Kusal Mendis top scored for Dambulla in the first essay with a polished 89 off 163 deliveries containing 12 boundaries. Galle’s chief run getter was Chathuranga de Silva who made 54 followed by Roshen de Silva 44 and skipper Dasun Shanaka 32.

Galle were 66 for 2 when rain put an end to the match.

The Kandy versus Colombo match at Hambantota was dominated by the Kandy team which totaled 270 and had their opponents in trouble at 138 for 9

When skipper Dinesh Chandimal opted to declare. Kandy were 65 for 3 when rain put an end to the match before the scheduled close.

Kandy’s first innings top run getter was 22-year old Ralph Priyamal Perera, the Sri Lanka A and former Under-19 prodigy who stroked an impressive 79. Former Richmondite and under-19 captain utility player Charith Asalanka also scored a fine 57.

 Dambulla 244 (73.3 overs)

(K. Mendis 89, 163b, 12×4), L. Madushanka 26, R. Herath 25, A.Priyanjan 24, Milinda Siriwardene 24, P.C. de Silva 3/31, M. Pushpakumara 2/30).

And 325/7 (89 Overs)

(S. Serasinghe 112, A. Priyanjan 95, M. Siriwardene 37, N.T. Gamage 5/65).

Galle 255 (65.1 Overs)

(P.C. de Silva 54, R. Silva 44, D. Shanaka 32, U. Tharanga 25,

P.L. Gamage 5/78, R. Herath 2/42).

And 66/2 (M. Warnapura n.o. 21, L. Madushanka 2/13).

Kandy 270 (77.1 Overs)

(P.A. R.P. Perera 79, C. Asalanka 57, N. Dickwella 38, R.P. Perera 79, C.H. Silva 4/40).
And 65/3 (16 Overs)(M. Udawatte 41, S. Jayasuriya 101)

 Colombo 138/9 decl. (43 Overs)

(J.K. Silva 26, S. Jayasuriya 25, L. Thirimanne 21, I. Udana 4/35)