Dhananjaya stars as Jaffna top table

Jaffna were able to regain the top position of the points table with a comfortable 51 run win over Damublla in the National Super League (NSL) Limited Overs tournament match at Pallekele yesterday.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva was the star for Jaffna with a century. Batsmen have failed to dominate the competition so far and Dhananjaya’s hundred was the second century of the tournament following Oshada Fernanado’s hundred last week. With 264 runs in five innings, Dhananjaya is now the leading run scorer in the NSL. He faced 120 deliveries yesterday and hit ten fours and a six for his hundred.

Put into bat first, Jaffna were in trouble as they were reduced to 17 for three. Then Dhananjaya came up with a captain’s knock. He added 83 runs with Santhush Gunathilaka (39) bringing stability to the innings and then a 95 run partnership for the sixth wicket followed with Ravindu Fernando (37). By the time Dhananjaya was dismissed in the 47th over, Jaffna had reached 236 for eight and some big hitting by the tail enabled them to a total of 266. That proved to be a match winning one. Lahiru Samarakoon, the former Dharmaraja College quick, finished with career best figures of four for 61.

Dambulla never gained any momentum during the run chase and showed no intensity finishing on 215 for nine. Fighting knocks by Sameera Sadamal (46) and Duvindu Tillekeratne (42) was some consolation for them. The experienced Nuwan Pradeep finished with three for 40.

Dambulla have had little momentum in the competition and not only have lost all five games so far but are yet to open their account in the points table.

Meanwhile at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, Galle cruised to a 44 run win over Colombo. At one stage, Galle were 103 for eight in the 30th over but former Ananada College all-rounder Kavishka Anjula smashed a quickfire 75 off 73 deliveries before being last man out in the last over. He hit nine fours and one six.

Quicks Kalana Perera, Himesh Ramanayake and Lahiru Madushanka picked up two wickets apiece.

Despite a promising start, Colombo were bowled out for 181 in 45.5 overs to give Galle a much needed win. They now have nine points but are placed fourth in the table.

Chalana de Silva’s left-arm orthodox spin fetched him three wickets.

Brief Scores:

Jaffna beat Dambulla by 51 runs

Jaffna

266 for eight in 50 overs

(Dhananjaya de Silva 101, Santhush Gunathilaka 39, Ravidu Fernando 37, Lahiru Samarakoon 4/61)

Dambulla

215 for nine in 50 overs

(Lasith Abeyratne 35, Sameera Sadamal 46, Duvindu Tillakaratne 42, Nuwan Pradeep 3/40)

Galle beat Colombo by 44 runs

Galle

225 all out in 49.1 overs

(Kavishka Anjula 75, Akila Dananjaya 22, Chalana de Silva 27, Lahiru Madushanka 2/18)

Colombo

181 all out in 45.5 overs

(Dimuth Karunaratne 42, Lahiru Madushanka 43, Chalana de Silva 3/27)