By M. Shamil Amit 

The spin and pace combination of Wanindu Hasaranga and Lahiru Samarakoon, who together shared nine wickets, paved the way for Dambulla to coast to a comfortable 85-run win over Galle in the National Super League final concluded at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday to emerge champions.

Since the final began on Thursday the bowlers dominated the game, and the final day’s proceedings too turned out to be the same which ensured a comfortable win for Dambulla.

It was sweet revenge for Dambulla having earlier suffered a defeat to the same opponents in the league segment of the tournament.
Galle resumed from their overnight score of 93 for 5 on the final day, needing 165 runs in the run chase of 258 runs.

Overnight pair Pathum Kumara, the top scorer in the first innings, and Dunith Wellalage were making smooth progress before spinner Hasaranga made the breakthrough with the wicket of Kumara after the pair added 37 runs for the sixth wicket and Galle on 125 for 6.

Samarakoon put Galle in further trouble when he got rid of Suminda Lakshan one run later. 

Wellalage, who made an unbeaten 52 despite associating in a 42-run stand for the eighth-wicket with Kavishka Anjula, only delayed an early win for Dambulla as Hasaranga cleaned off the tail and in the process bagged five scalps to bowl Galle out for 182.

The champions received a trophy and a cash award of Rs. Five million and the runners up received a trophy and a cash award of Rs 2.5 million.

Ramesh Mendis representing Dambulla was adjudged the player of the tournament and received a cash award of Rs. 500,000 while the best batsman Ahan Wickramasinghe of Kandy and best bowler Shashika Dulshan of Jaffna received cash awards of Rs. 250,000 each.

Result:

Dambulla 248 (Abishek Liyanaarchchi 54, Minod Bhanuka 50, Sanoj Dharshika 37, Pavan Ratnayake 31, Chamindu Wijesinghe 15, Dushan Hemantha 27 n.o.: Dunith Wellalage 5 for 58, Kavishka Anjula 2 for 38) and 196 (Sonal Dinusha 59, Ranitha Liyanaarachchi 45, Ashan Priyanjan 36: Mohamed Shiraz 5 for 52, Asanka Manoj 2 for 40)

Galle 187 (Pathum Kumara 78, Suminda Lakshan 41, Kavishka Anjula 26: Wanindu Hasranga 4 for 64, Lahiru Samarakoon 3 for 42, Sonal Dinusha 2 for 32) and (93/5 overnight) 182 (Pathum Kumara 36, Kavishka Anjula 27, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 19, Sohan de Livera 17, Dunith Wellalage 52 n.o.: Wanindu Hasaranga 5 for 44, Lahiru Samarakoon 4 for 60)

Main photo: Wanindu Hasaranga took 5 for 44 (Pic courtesy SLC)