National Super League Semi Final Jaffna, Kandy qualify for final

By M. Shamil Amit

Jaffna and Kandy qualified to the final of the National Super League Provincial four day cricket tournament when they came out on top in the two semi finals concluded at the Sooriyawewa Stadium and Pallekele Stadium yesterday.   

Jaffna pulled off a convicning nine wicket win over the high riding Colombo team at Sooriyawewa Stadium while Kandy recorded a first innings win over Galle in the other high scoring semi final game at Pallekele Stadium.   
The fourth day’s proceedings saw Jaffna chasing 92 runs for victory being guided by an unbeaten knock of 59 by Navod Paranavithana who along with Nishan Madushka putting on a valuable 73 runs for the opening wicket to help Jaffna resuming from their overnight score of 25 for no loss to reach the target with nine wickets in hand.  
In the match at Pallekele Stadium saw Galle in reply to Kandy’s massive score of 458 runs resuming from their overnight score of 147 for 1 being able to make a score of only 354 runs. 

• The fourth day’s proceedings saw Jaffna chasing 92 runs for victory being guided by an unbeaten knock of 59 by Navod Paranavithana

Results:
At Sooriyawewa – Jaffna won by nine wickets
Colombo 272 (Madawa Warnapura 42, Krishan Sanjula 39, Dimuth Karunaratne 39, Kusal Mendis 114 n.o.; Dhananjaya de Silva 5 for 48, Jeffrey Vandersay 2 for 59, Dilum Sudeera 2 for 92) and 158 (Kusal Mendis 38, Sithara Gimhan 18, Lakshitha Manasinghe 15, Promod Maduwantha 54 n.o.: Dilum Sudeera 3 for 35, Jeffrey Vandersay 2 for 22, Dhananjaya de Silva 2 for 55)
Jaffna 339 (Saminda Fernando 123, Navod Paranavithana 42, Sadeera Samarawickrama 32, Nishan Madushka 24; Kavika Dilshan 6 for 124, Nalin Priyadharshana 2 for 68) and (25/0 overnight) 95 for 1 (Nishan Madushka 32, Navod Paranavithana 59 n.o.)
At Pallekele – First inning win for Kandy
Kandy 458 (Oshada Fernando 127, Lamindu Mendis 108, Lahiru Udara 87, Kasun Vidura 45,Niroshan Dickwella 38,  Kamil Mishara 18; Suminda Lakshan 3 for 65,  Dhananjaya Lakshan 2 for 57, Dilshan Madusanka 2 for 73, Akila Dhananjaya 2 for 85) and 155 for 4 (Kamil Mishara 63, Kamindu Mendis 42, Lahiru Udara 32 n.o.; Akila Dhananjaya 2 for 67)
Galle (147/1 overnight) 354 (Pabasara Waduge 78, Hashan Dumindu 78, Dhananjaya Lakshan 60, Sangeeth Cooray 44, Kavishka Anjula 31, Suminda Lakshan 22, Akila Dhananjaya 17: Asitha Fernando 4 for 69, Ashian Daniel 3 for 86)