Kamindu and Oshada lead Kandy to 447/8 at stumps
Skipper Kamindu Mendis (108) and Oshada Fernando (127) struck fine centuries as Kandy scored a formidable total of 447 for 8 wickets while the second day’s play was once again interrupted by rain to limit only two sessions yesterday in their National Super League 4-day semi-final cricket fixture against Galle played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Mendis was in superb form with his fourth consecutive century in this series scoring 108 in 150 balls with 9 fours and a six, he also made a superb 200-run third-wicket stand with Oshada Fernando who scored a fine knock of 127 in 238 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes. This was also Oshada’s third century of the tournament while he missed another ton scoring 97 against Dambulla in their previous game.
Both Kamindu and Oshada were in terrific form as their performances impress the selectors before the Bangladesh Test series.
Kandy middle-order batter Lahiru Udara also came up with a good knock scoring an unbeaten 76 with 9 fours at the end of the day. Galle’s two pacemen Dilshan Madushanka, Dhananjaya Lakshan, and off-spinner Akila Dhananjaya took two wickets each.
(Colombo fight to take first-innings points over Jaffna)
Meanwhile, Saminda Fernando made a fighting unbeaten knock of 76 with 3 fours in 177 balls, and Jaffna is still on a 68-run trail to gain first innings points in their semi-final game against Colombo played at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium Hambantota yesterday. Colombo leg spinner Kavika Dilshan did most of the damage to pick 4 for 85 while Nalin Priyadarshana the off-spinner gave good support to take 2 for 28.
Earlier Colombo scored 272 all out in their first innings while Kusal Mendis was the successful stroke maker with a fine unbeaten knock of 114 with ten fours while no one supported to build up their innings from the other end to struggling 272 (all out). Jaffna skipper Dhananjaya de Silva was the pick of the bowlers taking 5 for 48.
*
*At Pallekele (second day)
Kandy: 447/8 at close (Oshada Fernando 127, Kamindu Mendis 108, Lahiru Udara 76*, Niroshan Dikwella 38, Dilshan Madushanka 2/77, Akila Dhananjaya 2/85, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/57) vs Galle
*At Hambantota (second day)
Colombo: 272 all out (Krishan Sanjula 39, Dimuth Karunaratne 39, Kusal Mendis 114, Madawa Warnapura 42, Dilum Sudeera 2/92, Dhananjaya de Silva 5/48, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/59)
Jaffna: 204/8 at close (Navod Paranavithana 42, Nishan Madushka 24, Saminda Fernando 76*, Sadeera Samarawickrama 32, Kavika Dilshan 4/85, Nalin Priyadarshana 2/28)