Day two of final round of the SLC Super Four Provincial Tournament 2018 concluded today (Sunday) with two matches being played at Dambulla and Hambanthota. Manoj Sarathchandra’s magnificent century and Nishan Peiris’ six wicket haul were the highlights of second day’s play.
Kandy vs Galle
Galle’s overnight batsmen Roshen Silva and Dammika Prasad resumed day two on 344 for 7 but in the third over of the day, the latter was caught behind by Angelo Mathews off the bowling of left arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya for 3 runs.
Roshen Silva and number 11 batsman Nishan Peiris built a valuable 56-run partnership for the last wicket as the Southern lads were bowled out for a mammoth score of 425 runs. Run-machine Roshen Silva made 168 runs off 296 balls and his brilliant innings included 16 fours and 2 sixes.
Watch LIVE – SLC Super Provincial Tournament – Kandy vs Galle
Left arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets to his name while off spinning all-rounder Charith Asalanka grabbed 3 wickets for the Kandy team.
In reply, batsmen Pathum Nissanka and Mahela Udawatte opened the batting for the Kandy team but the former was dismissed cheaply for just 6 runs. Then Mahela Udawatte (27) and Charith Asalanka (18) built a 50-run partnership for the second wicket.
However, Kandy continued to lose wickets at regular intervals without any significant partnerships and were eventually bowled out for just 185 runs. Mathews who returned to competitive cricket after an injury lay-off, made only 5 runs. Niroshan Dickwella (39) and Isuru Udana (35) top scored for Kandy while off spinner Nishan Peiris picked up 6 wickets for 67 runs for the Galle team.
Galle began their second innings with a massive lead of 240 runs and finished day two on 1 run for no wicket.
Colombo vs Dambulla
Kusal Janith and Sachithra Serasinghe resumed the Dambulla innings for day two on 73 for 3 but in-form batsman Serasinghe who scored a century in the last game against Galle, departed early in the day making just 3 runs. Then Kusal Janith Perera and wicket keeper batsman Manoj Sarathchandra put on a 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Kusal Janith showed his usual aggressive stroke play scoring 85 runs off 91 balls at a strike rate of 93.41. His blistering innings included 11 fours and one huge six. Sachithra Senanayke who has made some useful contributions with the bat in the tournament joined Sarathchandra at the crease and built a valuable 63-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
The lower order batsmen continued to support Sarathchandra to post a big total on the board as Jeffrey Vandersay also built a 72-run partnership with him for the eighth wicket. 25 year old Manoj Sarathchandra stroked 103 runs off 181 balls and his brilliant century included 11 fours.
Read – Day 1 Roundup of the Final Round in the SLC Super Four Provincial Tournament 2018
Left arm seamer Dilesh Gunaratne did well for Colombo scalping 4 wickets for 69 runs. Right arm seamer Thisara Perera who returned to first class cricket after four years, was expensive with the ball giving away 63 runs in 13 overs.
Colombo openers Kaushal Silva and Shehan Jayasuriya began their second innings trailing by 149 runs and finished day two on 37 runs for no wicket.
