National Super League Final Skipper Ramesh keeps Galle in contention

By M. Shamil Amit   

Galle skipper Ramesh Mendis kept his side in contention when he put in stiff resistance to make an unbeaten 79 against Kandy on day two of the National Super League final played at the Pallekele Stadium.   
Mendis’s knock coming off 118 balls comprised six boundaries which helped Galle in reply to Kandy’s score of 316 to end the day on 247 for 8.   
Galle had an inauspicious start when they lost the wicket of last weeks double ton scorer Oshada Fernando in the second over and then Sangeeth Cooray with the score on 28.   
The third pair Shehan Fernando and Dhananjaya Lakshan rescued the side by putting on a valuable 51 runs stand before they were separated.   

From there on they lost wickets at regular intervals and was struggling on 156 for 6 before skipper Mendis came to their rescue when he shared a 57 runs stand for the seventh wicket with Nishan Peiris and an unbroken 33 runs stand for the ninth wicket with Thilanga Udeshana who is yet to open his account for Galle to end day two trailing by 69 runs.   
Earlier in the day Kandy resuming from their overnight score of 279 for 8 went on to make 316 which came on the back of an unbeaten half ton by Ashian Daniel who shared a 34 runs stand for the ninth wicket with Lasith Embuldeniya.   
The match will be continued today   
Scores:   
Kandy (279/8 overnight) 316 ( Ashian Daniel 50 n.o)   
Galle 247 for 8 (Dhananjaya Lakshan 47, Shehan Fernando 33, Ramesh Mendis 79 n.o.: Nimsara Atharaglla 3/47, Sithum Dissanayake 2/48, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/65)