Final day of the Super Provincial four day cricket tournament 2018 concluded today with Galle team winning the championship and Dambulla team taking the runners-up title. Kandy team opener Pathum Nissanka’s master class century lit up the final day’s play.
Kandy vs Galle
The encounter between Galle and Kandy ended in a draw today at the Hambanthota International Cricket Stadium but the crucial first innings points were won by the Galle team. With this first innings victory, the Galle team won the Super Provincial four day championship with an aggregated 38.03 points.
Read: Upul and Roshen put Galle in command
Galle team declared their second innings today at 306 for 9, adding only 8 runs to their overnight score of 298. Roshen Silva, who remained unbeaten on 88 runs at stumps yesterday, was bowled by right arm seamer Chamika Karunaratne for 89 runs. Karunaratne did well with the ball for Kandy taking 5 scalps for 63 runs.
Chasing a mammoth score of 547 runs to win, Kandy openers Mahela Udawatte and Pathum Nissanka needed to provide a strong start to the innings but they made only a 34-run partnership for the first wicket as the former was caught at mid-wicket by Roshen Silva off the bowling of seamer Nisala Tharaka.
Then Nissanka was joined by Charith Asalanka at the middle and they built a match saving 148-run partnership for the second wicket. 20-year old left hander Charith Asalanka stroked 62 runs off 143 balls including 8 fours and 1 massive six over long on.
Skipper Angelo Mathews had a perfect opportunity to gain much needed match practice for the upcoming West Indies series but made only 23 runs off 34 balls as he was trapped in front by tall off spinner Nishan Peiris.
At 231 for 3, Nissanka and wicket keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella joined at the crease and built an unbeaten 132-run partnership for the fourth wicket before umpires called stumps on day four at 5.20pm due to bad light.
19-year old right handed batsman Pathum Nissanka who has represented Sri Lanka U-19s, stroked a magnificent century as he remained unbeaten on 188 runs off 226 balls including 20 fours and 3 sixes. It was a well-paced innings with a wide array of shots and came at an impressive strike rate of 83.10. Niroshan Dickwella supported him well at the other end stroking 56 runs off 66 balls with 4 boundaries.
Colombo vs Dambulla
Dambulla team comprehensively defeated Colombo team by 5 wickets today at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. With this victory, Dambulla team managed to claim 35.55 points in total and became the runners-up in Super Provincial four day cricket tournament 2018.
Chasing 203 runs to win, Dambulla openers Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne continued where they left off yesterday and built a solid 64-run partnership for the first wicket.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was the first wicket to fall on day four as he was caught by Lakshan Sandakan off the bowling of left arm seamer Dilesh Gunaratne for 19 runs. Dashing left hander Kusal Janith could not hang on for long as he was dismissed by right arm seamer Thikshila de Silva for just 3 runs.
In-form batsman Ashan Priyanjan did not bother the scorers as he was also dismissed by Thikshila de Silva for 2 runs. Dambulla team was struggling at 72 for 3 but Kusal Mendis and Sachithra Serasinghe rescued the innings putting on a 84-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
The lads from Dambulla chased down the target in the 45th over with 5 wickets remaining. Opening batsman Kusal Mendis top scored with 62 runs off 115 balls including 7 boundaries and Sachithra Serasinghe made 55 runs off 78 balls with 7 boundaries.
