Kandy lead table with 6 points, Colombo close second with 5 points
Colombo went on to chalk up its second successive win in a forceful comeback on day-4 following a tie and a loss on the first two days while Kandy pocketed its third win atoning for the loss to Colombo in the previous game in the ongoing Super Provincial Tournament. Kandy’s win saw them lead the table with 6 points with Colombo a close second with 5 points.
Colombo beat Galle by 3 wickets in a high scoring match displaying the depth as good chasers by topping Galle’s 299 for 9 in 50 overs at the R. Premadasa Stadium while Kandy registered a 39-run win over Dambulla having totaled 323 for 5 wickets in 50 overs at the Dambulla Stadium. Dambulla was bowled out for 284 in 48.1 overs.
Colombo’s hero was opening batsman Dilshan Munaweera who struck a blistering 86 that was the launching pad for all-rounder Thisara Perera to breeze to a quick fire 42 off 30 balls. Munaweera’s knock was self bolstering for higher recognition at national level from his current T20 role. It earned him the ‘Man of the Match’ award. Sri Lanka player Upul Tharanga’s struck a fine century for Galle but Colombo’s tall total was too much for Galle to chase down.
The other noteworthy performance was Kandy’s Chamara Kapugedera who continued his good form notching his second century in the tournament to take the ‘Man of the Match’ award. Dambulla’s top scorer was Bhanuka Rajapaksa with 81 while Sri Lanka stars Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera struck half centuries.
CHIEF SCORES
Colombo vs. Galle:
Galle 299/9(50 overs) Upul Tharanga 101, Dimuth Karunaratne 78, Dhananjaya de Silva 52*, V Fernando 2/56 vs
Colombo 301/7 (49 overs) D Munaweera 86, A Jayasinghe 70, T Perera 42*: S Prasanna 2/59, S Lakmal 2/61.
Kandy beat Dambulla by 39 runs:
Kandy 323/5 (50 overs) Chamara Kapugedara 105*, D Gunathilaka 75, D Cooray 43, A Priyanjan 4/32 vs
Dambulla 284 all out (48.3 ov) Bhanuka Rajapaksha 81,Kusal Mendis 59, Kusal Perera 56: Charith Asalanka 4/27, N Pradeep 3/65
By Srian Obeyesekere
