Dickwella, Mendis steer Kandy to opening win

By M. Shamil Amit

Niroshan Dickwella and Kamindu Mendis cracked half tons as Kandy began their National Super League 50-over campaign with an easy six-wicket win over Jaffna at the SSC grounds yesterday. 

Dickwella cracked a 45-ball knock of 68 inclusive of seven boundaries and four sixes while Mendis made an unbeaten 57 in 45 balls that included five boundaries and a six.

Kandy, chasing a target of 247, were given a flying start by openers Dickwella and Pathum Nissanka who put on 105 runs in just 86 balls. This was followed with Mendis sharing three valuable partnerships – the first a brief 29 runs for the third wicket with Oshada Fernando, followed by a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket with Kamil Mishara and an unbroken 68-run stand for the fifth wicket with Sahan Arachchige – for guide Kandy to the target in the 40th over.

Earlier Jaffna, invited to take first lease of the wicket, were helped by useful knocks from Lahiru Thirimanne (56), Santhush Gunatileke (45) and Janith Liyanage (41) though their score of 246 proved insufficient.
In another match played at the P. Sara Stadium, Colombo were helped by half tons from Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka as they coasted to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Dambulla who crashed to their second successive defeat.

The pair cracked quick-fire knocks with Kusal making 67 in 44 balls that included six boundaries and four sixes while Asalanka made an unbeaten 52 in 46 balls with eight boundaries.

Kusal featured in two valuable partnerships, putting on 43 with opening partner Danushka Gunatileke and 61 runs for the second wicket with Asalanka, in pursuit of a 144-run victory target, getting there in the 
21st over.   

Results:

At SSC – Kandy won by six wickets
Jaffna 246 for 8 in 50 overs (Lahiru Thirimanne 56, Santhush Gunatileke 45, Janith Liyanage 41, Dhananjaya de Silva 28, Ishan Jayaratne 19, Sadeera Samarawickrama 18, Jeffrey Vandersay 16 n.o.; Nipun Randika 3 for 41, Pulina Tharanga 2 for 44, Asitha Fernando 2 for 51)   
Kandy 247 for 4 in 39.4 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 69, Kamil Mishara 34, Pathum Nissanka 32, Oshada Fernando 18, Kamindu Mendis 57 n.o., Sahan Arachchige 28 n.o.; Shiran Fernando 2 for 33)   
At P Sara Stadium – Colombo won by seven wickets
Dambulla 143 in 40 overs (Lasith Abeyratne 41, Ashan Priyanjan 31, Pavan Ratnayake 19, Sonal Dinusha 15; Prbath Jayasuriya 3 for 35, Kalana Perera 2 for 18, Charith Aslanka 2 for 19)   
Colombo 144 for 3 in 20.4 overs (Kusal Mendis 67, Charith Asalanka 52 n.o.)