A couple of games in the NSL 50 overs tournament took place today with Team Jaffna and Team Colombo registering comfortable wins over Team Dambulla and Team Galle respectively.
Team Jaffna recorded an impressive 70-run win against Team Dambulla today at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota. Batting first, Jaffna posted a competitive total of 312 for the loss of 7 wickets, with Mohammed Shamaz smashing his career-best List-A score. Shamaz scored 112, including 9 boundaries and 5 sixes. Ron Chandraguptha and Ravindu Sembukutty also contributed with half-centuries, putting Team Jaffna in the driver’s seat at the end of the first innings.
The standout bowler for Team Dambulla was teenager Gayana Weerasinghe, grabbing 2 wickets in his 10-over quota while only giving away 36 runs.
In reply, Team Dambulla was bundled out for 242 runs where left-arm spinner Theesan Vithusan excelled by grabbing 3 wickets. To top it off Vithusan’s spin partner also claimed 2 wickets helping to restrict Dambulla.
Gayana Weerasinghe again with the bat top scored for Dambulla with a brilliant 84 runs. Gayana’s gritty knock couldn’t take Dambulla over the line though.
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In Colombo at the R. Premadasa Stadium Team Colombo went past Team Galle with ease ina low scoring one sided game. Batting first, Colombo posted a below-par score of 228. Avishka Fernando’s 44 and Ashen Bandara’s 33 helped Colombo reach that total under tricky conditions.
Akila Dananjaya was the pick of the bowlers for Galle by picking 3 wickets, Dunith Wellalage and Sanoj Darshika Also joined the party by picking ip 2 wickets apiece.
The party for Galle didn’t last long as the Colombo bowlers ripped through Galle’s batting lineup as Kavindu Nadeeshan Took matters into his own hands by picking up 5 wickets for just 33 runs, bowling them out for 101 runs which earned them a comfortable 127 runs victory.
The only batter to go past the 20 run mark was Sanoj Darshika where he scored a fighting knock until he lasted off 52 balls.
Brief Scores:
Jaffna 312/7 (50) Mohammed Shamaz 112, Ron Chandraguptha 72,Ravindu Sembukutty 58, Gayana Weerasinghe 2/36
Dambulla 242 (42.2) Gayana Weerasinghe 84, Theesan Vithusan 3/59,Kalhara Senaratne 2/36
Result – Jaffna won by 70 runs
Colombo 228/9 (50) Avishka Fernando 44, Ashen Bandara 33, Kavindu Nadeeshan 29, Akila Dananjaya 3/47,Dunith Wellalage 2/43, Sanoj Darshika 2/48
Galle 101 (32.4) Sanoj Darshika 32, Kavindu Nadeeshan 5/33, Charith Asalanka 2/4, Dilum Sudeera 2/24
Result – Colombo won by 127 runs
