Kavindu, Akila send Colombo reeling

Kavindu Pathiratne

By M. Shamil Amit

Dambula’s right arm pace and spin pair of Kavindu Pathiratne and Akila Dananjaya accounted for eight wickets to send Colombo reeling for a low score of 146 on day two of the National Super cricket tournament final at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Colombo resuming from their overnight score of 12 for 2 succumbed to Kavindu who bagged three quick wickets to have them in dire straits and reeling on 28 for 5 before Sharujan Shanmuganathan and skipper Charith Asalanka came to the side’s rescue.

The pair held on and managed to post their 50 runs stand to help Colombo go into the lunch break with the score on 88 for 5.

Nisala Abeyratne made the breakthrough for Dambullla in the post lunch session with the wicket of Charith who made 27 and shared a 61 runs stand for the sixth wicket with Sharujan.

Sharujan did not last long as he became Kavindu’s fifth victim dismissed for 44 which had seven boundaries. Apart from Kavija Gamage the late order batting failed to make any impression as Dananjaya with his three wicket haul helped Dambulla to bowl out Colombo for 146 runs.

Dambulla batting the second time were given a sound start by openers Nishan Madushka and Vishad Randika who together put on 56 runs.

But the separation of the pair made Dambulla undergo the same fate as Colombo as they lost five wickets for the addition of 51 runs with right arm pacie Chamod Battage bagging four scalps doing the damage as Dambulla ended the day on 107 for 6, a lead of 183 runs.

Scores:

Dambulla 222 for 9 declared (Sonal Dinusha 51, Anjala Bandara 40, Pavan Ratnayake 39, Vishad Randika 23, Lasith Croospulle 16, Dhananjaya de Silva 15: Prabath Jayasuirya 4/54, Janith Liyanage 2/18, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/42) and 107 for 6 (Nishan Madushka 43, Vishad Randika 21: Chamod Battage 4/21)

Colombo (12/2 overnight) 146 (Sharujan Shanmuganathan 44, Charith Asalanka 27, Kavija Gamage 25, Prabath Jayasuriya 19: Kavindu Pathiratne 5/51, Akila Dananjaya 3/17)