National Super League Championship 2024 Defending champions Dambulla retain title

By M. Shamil Amit
Defending champions Dambulla retained the National Super League limited over tournament title when they recorded a close 19 runs win over Kandy in a high scoring final played under floodlights at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Kandy set a massive target of 333 runs though helped by two fine knocks by Kamil Mishara and Lahiru Udara in the early part of the innings failed to capitalize and was bowled out for 313 runs.
Kandy in their run chase lost their first wicket in the second over with seven runs on the board. But they made a recovery through two useful knocks by Kamil 94 in 95 balls inclusive of 12 boundaries and Lahiru who made a breezy 50 ball knock of 86 which included ten boundaries and four sixes.
The pair put on 149 runs in 112 balls for the second wicket, but the separation of the pair with the dismissal of Lahiru saw them losing wickets at regular intervals as they slid from a healthy position of 156 for 1 to 219 for 5 which included Kamil.
The late order batting too faltered but Wanuja Sahan who made a 37 ball unbeaten knock of 44 with three boundaries and a six put in some resistance but was forced to see losing partners and his effort proved futile and a last wicket stand of 41 runs with Nimsara Atharagalla proved to be in vain as pacie Asitha  Fernando dashed hopes of a win by claiming the wicket of Nimsara.

Earlier Dambula batsmen made merry in the first session of play after skipper Minod Bhanuka won the toss and opted to take first lease of the wicket to make a formidable score of 332 for 4 which came on the back of three quick fire partnerships that began with the opening wicket stand of 96 in 93 balls between skipper Bhanuka who made 69 in 62 balls which had six boundaries and three sixes and Lasith Croospulle.
Pavan Ratnayake who made an unbeaten 118 in 108 balls inclusive of ten boundaries and three sixes was associated in the other two partnerships that of a run a ball 160 runs for the third wicket with Sanoj Dharshika who hit 73 in 73 balls with four boundaries and four sixes and 53 runs in 40 balls for the fourth wicket with Ayana Siriwardena who made 21 in 17 balls.
Meanwhile Pavan Ratnayake of Team Dambulla  was adjudged the player of the final, Lahiru Kumara of Team Kandy the best bowler of the tournament, Shehan Fernando of Team Galle the best batsman and Janith Liyanage of Team Jaffna the player of the tournament.