DIMUTH, SADEERA STEER GALLE TO CONVINCING WIN
Half tons by Dimuth Karunaratne and Sadeera Samarawickrama laid the foundation for Galle to record a convincing 70-run win over table leaders Kandy in the second round match of the SLC Super Provincial limited over tournament played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Kandy came into the game sans their skipper Chamara Kapugedera who had been their match winner in the previous games but even then credit cannot be taken away from Galle.
Dimuth continued his batting form with a fine knock of 89 following the 78 he scored against Colombo on Saturday though in a losing cause, while Sadeera Samarawickrama made 61.
Galle skipper Upul Tharanga winning the toss and deciding to bat gave the side a sedate start along with Sadeera adding 45 runs. This was followed by two more useful partnerships first of 63 runs for the second wicket between Sadeera and Dimuth, who associated in another 51-run stand for the third wicket with Sammu Ashan.
Dimuth added another 59 runs for the fourth wicket with Chathuranga de Silva and his dismissal in the 46th over for 89 was followed by Dasun Shanaka making a brisk unbeaten knock of 49 in 36 balls for Galle to end with a score of 313 for 9.
Kandy in their run chase were never in the game even though openers Sandun Weerakkody and Dilhan Cooray gave them a sound start of 57 runs.
Their separation saw Kandy losing wickets at regular intervals and at the halfway stage of the innings they were tottering on 99 for 5. Stand in Captain Mahela Udawatte and Sachith Pathirana put on a 72 runs for the sixth wicket but it only delayed an inevitable win for Galle as Pathirana’s unbeaten knock of 73 was in vain as it could not prevent Galle from coasting to an easy win.
In the other match played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium Dambulla coasted to a 44-run win over Colombo in a high-scoring game. Colombo in pursuit of a challenging score of 317 guided by Dilshan Munaweera and skipper Dinesh Chandimal were making steady progress.
But the separation of the duo saw the Colombo middle and late order batting failing to make any impression. Dilshan slammed another top knock of 85 in just 57 balls as he along with Nipun Karunanayake gave the side a flying start of 112 runs in only 103 runs.
Despite skipper Chandimal’s knock of 70 they fell back and in the end they were restricted to a score of 272 with the right arm spin and pace combination of Ashan Priyanjan and Asitha Fernando doing the damage.
The first session of play saw Dambulla skipper Kusal Perera winning the toss and electing to take first lease of the wicket, with his team undergoing an early setback losing their first wicket in the second over that of Kusal Mendis with the score on six. Kusal Perera and Bhanuka Rajapakse put on a brief stand of 47 runs for the second wicket which followed by Bhanuka joined by Ashan Priyanjan settling down and having things their own way. The pair associated in a massive 155 runs for the third wicket before they were separated with the dismissal of Ashan who made a quick fire 65 ball knock of 70 that included seven boundaries and a six.
Dambulla fell back again as they lost four quick wickets for the addiation of 47 runs -- from a healthy position of 208 for 2 they slid to 251 for 6 in the 44th over.
Bhanuka along with Milinda Siriwardena added 63 runs for the seventh wicket before Bhanuka was dismissed having made a valuable 117 runs in 111 balls which had ten boundaries and three sixes.
Milinda did not last long thereafter but his calypso style innings of 68 in 41 balls with ten boundaries and a six in the end enabled Dambulla to end their innings making a formidable score of 316 for 8. Results: At R. Premadasa Stadium – Galle won by 70 runs
Galle 313 for 9 in 50 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 89, Sadeera Samarawickrama 61, Chathuranga de Silva 31, Upul Tharanga 26, Sammu Ashan 22, Dasun Shanaka 49 n.o.: Nuwan Pradeep 3 for 58, T.N. Sampath 2 for 31) Kandy 243 in 46.1 overs (Mahela Udawatte 54, Sandun Weerakkody 38, Charith Asalanka 15, Sachith Pathirana 73 n.o.: Malinda Pushpakumara 3 for 22, Suranga Lakmal 2 for Sammu Ashan 2 for 53)
At Dambulla – Dambulla won by 44 runs
Dambulla 316 for 8 in 50 overs (Bhanuka Rajapakse 117, Ashan Priyanjan 70, Milinda Siriwardena 68, Kusal Perera 32, Dilruwan Perera 17: Shehan Jayasuriya 4 for 29, Thisara Perera 2 for 31, Sachithra Senanayake 2 for 53) Colombo 272 in 47.5 overs (Dilshan Munaweera 85, Dinesh Chandimal 70, Nipun Karunanayake 31, Angelo Jayasinghe 17: Ashan Priyanjan 4 for 41, Asitha Fernando 4 for 44, Lakshan Sandakan 2 for 65)