National Super League Nipun, Nuwanindu, Krishan guide Colombo to second successive win

Colombo’s Nipun Danjaya plays a shot

By M. Shamil Amit

Half-tons by Nipun Dhananjaya, Nuwanindu Fernando, and Krishan Sanjula paved the way for Colombo to record a comfortable six-wicket win over Kandy in the National Super League cricket tournament that concluded at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Nipun was unfortunate to miss out on a ton as he fell short of four runs, making 96 inclusive of eight boundaries, while Nuwanindu made 60 with five boundaries and six, and Krishan chipped in with 55 (six boundaries).
On the final day of play, Colombo, in their run chase of 259 runs for victory, resuming from their overnight score of 114/0, saw openers Nipun and Krishan add a further eight runs before being separated by the dismissal of Krishan. Nipun put on another valuable 76 runs for the second wicket with Nuwanindu before he was dismissed.

Later, skipper Sammu Ashan (25) played a useful knock, putting on two brief partnerships with Nuwanindu and Roshen Silva for the third and fourth wickets, to seal the match for Colombo and record their second consecutive win of the tournament.

Galle recorded a first-inning win over Dambulla in a high-scoring match of the same tournament that concluded at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. Galle, in reply to Dambulla’s score of 418 runs, resuming from their overnight score of 499/7, went on to make a formidable score of 513 runs.
Results:
At R. Premadasa Stadium – Colombo won by six wickets
Kandy 241 (Oshada Fernando 105, Kasun Vidura 43, Kamindu Mendis 26, Sahan Arachchige 15; Prabath Jaysuriya 3/47, Lakshitha Munasinghe 3/59, Kasun Rajitha 2/43, Nisala Tharaka 2/61) and 226 (Kamindu Mendis 114, Sachindu Colombage 29, Kamil Mishara 25; Kasun Rajitha 5/48, Lakshitha Manasinghe 3/79)
Colombo 218 (Lakshitha Manasinghe 53, Nisala Tharaka 24, Prabath Jayasuriya 20, Lahiru Madusanka 80 n.o.; Asitha Fernando 2/138, Ashian Daniel 3/51, Sachindu Colombage 2/37) and (114/0 overnight) 260/4 (Nipun Dhananjaya 96, Nuwanindu Fernando 60, Krishan Sanjula 55, Sammu Ashan 25; Sachindu Colombage 2/52, Ashian Daniel 2/77)

At Dambulla – First inning win for Galle
Dambulla 418 (Minod Bhanuka 163, Nimesha Gunasinghe 1-3, Pawantha Weerasinghe 29,, Leo Fransisco 17, Ashan Priyanjan 17, Lahiru Sandaruwan 37 n.o.; Chanaka Ruwansiri 4/62, Akila Dhananjaya 3/74) and 300/7 declared (Pawantha Weerasinghe 76, Minod Bhanuka 49, Ashan Priyanjan 37, Leo Fransisco 27, Nimesha Gunasinghe 18, Chamindu Wijesinghe 40 n.o., Lahiru Samarakoon 26 n.o.; Chanaka Ruwansiri 2/49, Akila Dhananjaya 2/66, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/74)
Galle (499/7 overnight) 513 (Hashan Dumindu 167, Dhananjaya Lakshan 119, Vishad Randika 51, Suminda Lakshan 46, Pabasara Waduge 34, Sangeeth Cooray 32; Lahiru Samarakoon 4/52, Ashan Priyanjan 3/84) and 80/2 (Sangeeth Cooray 47 n.o., Dhananjaya Lakshan 15 n.o.)