NSL reaches climax as top three battle for final berth
The third week of the National Super League (NSL) gradually reaching the climax saw centurions making their presence felt. The twin ton came off from Nuwanidu Fernando, who scored back-to-back centuries. Though each of them were on winning and losing causes, Fernando of Colombo did send out a message to the selectors for his debut for the national side.
It was a week of centuries for Colombo, as their wicket-keeper batsman Sithara Gimhana also joined the party.
Preview:
- Match 17: Jaffna vs Galle at Pallekele
Jaffna, in the concluding third week today, has managed to remain in the top-two places and would want to hold on to that run and cruise into the final. Galle, with three wins and losses, is in a now-or-never situation, needing to win their remaining two matches for any chance of entering the finals.
- Match 18: Dambulla vs Kandy at Dambulla
The dead rubber match would be of formality and playing for a face saving win for both teams respectively to be played on the same day. Dambulla, in their final encounter is going through a terrible tournament, and are left with the final chance of finishing the tournament with the second and last win. While for their counterparts Kandy, they can hand over the worst looking Dambulla another defeat and maintain their top spot.
- Match 19: Galle vs Kandy at Pallekele
In the penultimate match of the league stage on Wednesday (9), if Galle’s first match of the week goes well, they will stand another chance of making it to the finals. However, for that though, they will have to beat table toppers, Kandy, who would not want to upset themselves sitting pretty at the top.
- Match 20: Jaffna vs Colombo at Dambulla
The final league match of NSL might in fact give a glimpse of a possible final. Jaffna has only gone down twice and has been in fine form, well led by their skipper Dhananjaya de Silva. For Colombo though, there still seems to be a faint chance in their last luck.
FINAL: DAY/NIGHT AT PALLEKELE
At the time of writing, the top three teams – Kandy, Jaffna and Colombo – are in a tussle for the title deciding game to be played exactly in a week. While Jaffna and Kandy look likely, provided their results go in their way, Colombo will have to beat second placed Jaffna to upset the northern team, having been consistent this season. Kandy are capable of booking their final berth, though they cannot treat their final two matches lightly.
SUMMARY AND SCORES
- Match 13: Colombo beat Dambulla by 107 runs at Pallekele
Two centuries from Sithara Gimhana (110) and Nuwanidu Fernando (100) meant Dambulla was in for another hammering defeat by over 100 runs last Monday (7). Dambulla, already in dismal form this season, was as expected were never up to their chase. Chasing a mammoth 318, they kept on losing wickets regular intervals.
The only two respectable knocks came from half centurions Lasith Abeyratne (57) and Sadeera Sandamal (57). Except for that it was mostly single digits, giving in without a fight. Earlier in the day, when Colombo was inserted to bat first, the day and stage was set for the two century makers of the day. The first, wicket-keeper batsman Gimhana laid the foundation with a 129-run opening wicket stand. After he perished for a 110 off 104 coming off 13 boundaries s and three maximums, second was Fernando only making matters worse with a blistering 100 off only 82. His knock was aided with four sixes.
Colombo 317 for 6 (50) (Sithara Gimhana 110, Nuwanindu Fernando 100, Dushan Hemantha 3/56)
Dambulla 210 all out (48.3) (Lasith Abeyratne 57, Sadeera Sadamal 57, Lahiru Madushanka 3/50, Kalana Perera 3/30)
- Match 14: Kandy beat Jaffna by 5 wickets at Dambulla
In a surprise low-scorer from high-riding Jaffna, they were convincingly beaten by Kandy by five-wickets; courtesy to Ashian Daniel’s 5 for 27 limiting Jaffna to paltry score of 109, played on the same day. The central hills boys were given the start by their captain-cum-glove man Niroshan Dickwella’s brisk 45 and the batsmen followed gave the finish touch ups.
For Jaffna, pressed to bat first, were in an unusual odd-day with no batsmen standing up to Kandy’s bowling and five of them falling to Daniel. Daniel, in fact, was on a hat-trick having dismissed Dananjaya de Silva for nine and Santhush Gunathilake for golden duck.
Kandy 110 for 3 (27) (Niroshan Dickwella 45, Nuwan Pradeep 2/19)
Jaffna 109 all out (30.2) (Sadeera Samarawickrama 31, Ashian Daniel 5/27)
- Match 15: Kandy beat Colombo by 6 wickets at Pallekele
Nuwanidu Fernando, the centurion in his last match, continued from where he left, with a second straight century (112), still failed to thwart Kandy knocking Colombo off by an easy 6-wicket played on Thursday (10). Kandy, in their pursuit, though they lost captain Niroshan Dickwella and a few early wickets, a middle-order partnership of 128 between Oshada Fernando hitting an undone 85 and Sahan Arahchige’s 64 saw them home. Colombo setting off the target, in addition to Fernando’s fireworks, was also complemented by Sammu Ashan scoring a 62.
Kandy 272 for 4 (48.5) (Oshada Fernando 85n.o., Sahan Arachchige 64)
Colombo 271 all out (49.3) (Nuwanidu Fernando 112, Sammu Ashan 62, Asitha Fernando 3/41, Pulina Tharanga 3/66)
- Match 16: Dambulla beat Galle 5 wickets at Dambulla
Dambulla finally registered their desperately-needed first win downing a better-placed Galle by 5 wickets at home, played on the same day. After series of defeats, Dambulla skittled out their visitors for a thin score of 125. For the home team, it was Duvindu Tillakaratne bagging a 4 for 21 and helping his team keep their opposition under check. However, the hosts chase was not all smooth, as they lost couple of early wickets until Ashan Priyaranjan’s near-run-a-ball 31 settled and sent them home.
Dambulla 126 for 5 (24.5) (Ashan Priyanjan 31, Akila Dananjaya 1/18)
Galle 125 all out (33.4) (Himasha Liyanage 29, Duvindu Tillakaratne 4/21)