Courtesy: SLC
Sri Lankan international Oshada Fernando, scored his 24th First-class hundred on day one of the four-day National Super League clash between Galle and Dambulla at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday, March 20. The right-handed batter, who has played 22 Test matches after making his debut over five years ago, brought his best to the Sri Lankan premier four-day competition, but despite his performance, Galle were bowled out of 267 runs before stumps on day one.
After winning the toss, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, the captain of Galle, decided to bat first, and his decision proved to be excellend. Oshada Fernando, who was opening the batting, shared a second wicket stand of 154 runs with Sri Lankan veteran Dinesh Chandimal, putting their team in a strong position during the second session while going past their respective fifties.
Akila Dananjaya picked 7-wicket haul for Dambulla on day one
Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed for 73 runs in 124 balls with six fours and two maximums in his innings on the bowling of Akila Dananjaya, and then the rest of the Galle batting lineup crumbled in front of the leg spinner, who picked up a seven-wicket haul. The carnage truly began after Oshada Fernando lost his wicket to pacer Vishwa Fernando after scoring 100 runs in 163 balls with eight fours and two maximums, which had left his team 207/4.
Akila Dananjaya ran through the lower order of Galle, registering figures of 7/83 in 27 overs with two maidens for Dambulla, to help bowl out the hosts in 67 overs in their first innings. In response, at the close of play on day one, Dambulla had reached 38/0 in 9 overs, but not before opening batter Lasith Croospulle had to retire hurt in the final hour of the day’s play.
