On Day 2 of the 4th week in the National Super League, Kandy Vs Jaffna encounter saw a lot of wickets falling while Galle Vs Colombo clash had more runs. Janith Liyanage’s century, Nisala Tharaka’s 80 plus score and Ahan Wickramasinghe’s half century were the highlights of the day.
Resuming the day on 287/6, the Colombo team tailenders put up a more than decent fight to push their total over 400 to end on 405. Tharaka who was on 55 at stumps on day 1, went on to score 82 while Kasun Rajitha and Tharindu Rathnayaka scored 34 and 28 respectively. Colombo’s last man Udith Madushan also made a cameo of 18 as he stitched a 51 run stand for the final wicket with Rajitha.
Kavishka Anjula continued his impressive run in the tournament taking 4 wickets for 67 runs and Galle skipper Ramesh Mendis also chipped in with a 3 wicket haul.
Galle openers Hashan Dumindu and Sangeeth Cooray couldn’t provide them with a good opening stand as Dumindu departed for 9 as Madushan disturbed his woodwork. Cooray made 33 in quick time before getting out and the senior statesman of the Galle team Angelo Mathews then combined with Lakshan Edirisinghe as the pair batted until stumps on day 2 with an unbroken stand of 71 for the 3rd wicket. Edirisinghe who was batting brilliantly was on 52 and Mathews was on 32 at stumps. With the scoreline on 131, Galle will begin day 3 trailing by 274 runs with 8 wickets in hand.
Toss : Colombo
Colombo 1st Inn – 405 (Avishka Fernando 150, Nisala Tharaka 82, Kavishka Anjula 4/67, Ramesh Mendis 3/87)
In the other clash of the week, Jaffna began the day on 93/3 still 172 runs behind the 1st innings total of Kandy. Liyanage who was on 41 at stumps on day 1, converted his overnight score into a fighting century as he made 129. But none of the other batters supported him as Jaffna were bowled out for 245. Liayange’s 129 included 16 fours and a six. In bowling for Kandy, Lahiru Kumara and Wanuja Kumara took 3 wickets each.
With a 20 run advantage Kandy began their 2nd inning and they were on 172 for the loss of 6 wickets at stumps. The top 3 Kandy batters, Kasun Vidura, Thanuka Dabare and Oshadha Fernando all got good starts but none of them were able to reach the 30 run mark. Niroshan Dickwella once again gave away a good and aggressive start as he got out for 25.
The 21 year old Wickramasinghe who hammered a century on Day 01 of the game was once again the best batter on show for team Kandy. When the second day ended he was unbeaten on 51 off 59 balls. With all their recognised batters gone, Wickramasinghe will have his work cut out as he will look to stretch that lead of 192 on Day 3.
Shashika Dulshan who took 4 wickets in the 1st innings has already taken another 4 wicket haul in the 2nd innings and he looks like the main threat for Kandy going into day 3.
Toss : Jaffna
Kandy 1st Inn – 265 (Ahan Wickramasinghe 101, Sandun Weerakkody 36, Oshadha Fernando 33, Shashika Dulshan 4/70, Binura Fernando 3/34)
