Dambulla’s spin prodigy Akila Dananjaya claimed 5 wickets for 99 runs in a running form rhythm with the ball in the Sri Lanka Cricket National Super League Tournament in putting his side close to victory over Colombo reduced to 221 for 7 leading by a slender 121 with their only hope being star batsman Kusal Mendis unbeaten on 86 at stumps on the penultimate third day at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Mendis had struck 8 boundaries in his fighting knock and with him was No. 8 Pramod Madushan on 4.
Dambulla led Colombo by 100 runs with the previous day’s century makers Pavan Rathnayake and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva coming out of injury to adding just 8 and 12 to their overnight scores falling for 142 (202 balls, 13×4, 1×6) and 163 (255b. 22×4). It set the ball rolling for Akila Dananjaya to do the rest with the ball going on to claim the prize wicket of Colombo skipper Charith Asalanka for a second ball duck spooning to his opposite number Dhananjaya de Silva.
Colombo’s other run getters were Kavin Bandara 44 off 87 with 4 boundaries and opening batsman Navod Paranavithana 32 off 66 with a similar number of boundaries with Akila Dananjaya dismissing the duo as well.
Meanwhile, Jaffna’s opening batsman Ravindu Rasantha, who missed a dream century in the first innings, made up for it by a rousing unbeaten 135 off 168 balls hitting 15 boundaries while wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who lost his Sri Lanka place quite some years ago, nudging the national selectors as well as critics with a scintillating century 113 off 101 balls upped by 11 boundaries and a six that he was not a spent force as the duo saw their side on 378 for 6 in erasing a first innings 131 deficit against Kandy which totaled 332 for a lead of 247 runs at stumps on the third day yesterday of their National Super League match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
