By Srian Obeyesekere
The Sri Lanka Cricket Super League 4-day Tournament was grippingly poised in a heated sea sawing battle as the ball reigned over bat on the third day yesterday that saw Dambulla bowl out Colombo for 146 in 44.3 overs as the 23 year old paceman Kavindu Pathiratne wrought all hell by an impeccable 5 for 51 haul to wrest a valuable 66 first innings lead, but Colombo hit back with a spade with the ball in its ranks too in reducing their opponents to 107 for 6 in 33.2t overs with Chamod Battage claiming 4 wickets foe 21 runs in a 5-over spell evening the balance as Dambulla led by 183 runs with four wickets intact to make a match of it yesterday at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
At the outset, the day all belonged to Pathiratne and Akila Dananjaya whose 3 for 17 off only 5 overs as the former leading Sri Lanka spinner continued his superb wicket taking form in a long run despite being ignored by the national selectors, put Dambulla in control with only Sri Lanka youth batting sensation Sharujan Shanmuganathan playing a sheet anchor 44 off 68 with 7 boundaries for Colombo in enhancing constant performances for big time national recognition.
Indeed, in the dire circumstances, Shanmuganathan’s innings was a gem in keeping his side in the game following a 5 for 28 havoc in adding 61 for the sixth wicket with skipper Charith Asalanka whose 27 off 48 was the next highest followed by Karija Gamage’s 25.
When Dambulla batted a second time Chamod Battage, the 25 year old fast medium bowler struck for Colombo accounting for the first four frontline wickets to fall that included Vishad Randika for 21, Lasith Croospulle 14 and Pavan Rathnayake for 1 as opener Nishan Madushka stroked a defiant 43 off 62 hitting 8 boundaries, but saw his skipper Dhananjaya de Silva sent out by Janith Liyanage for 5.
Chief scores
Dambulla 222 for 9 wickets declared and 107 for 6 wickets at close (Nishan Madushka 43 , Vishad Randika 21, Lasith Croospulle 14 , Sonal Dinusha 12, Chamod Battage 4/21)
Colombo 146 all out (Prabath Jayasuiya 19, Sharujan Sharnmuganathan 44, Charith Asalanka 27, Kavija Gamage 25, Dushan Hemantha 14 , Kavindu Pathiratne 5/51 , Akila Dhananjaya 3/17)