CCC, Tamil Union set the pace as tournament enters halfway stage

Nishan Madushka of Ragama CC has been in terrific form and needs 75 runs to become the first batsman to top 1000 runs for the season

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Defending champions CCC and Tamil Union have set the pace by leading their respective groups in the ongoing SLC Major League inter-club tournament as it reaches its halfway stage with a full card of 12 matches commencing today.  

Last week both table leaders consolidated their positions with Tamil Union taking full points by defeating Saracens by four wickets and CCC getting the better of Moors SC in the first innings in a tabletop clash that ended in a draw.

The respective wins saw CCC (72.335) opening up an 11-point lead over their nearest rivals SSC (61.655) while the high-riding Tamil Union (78.055) have widened the gap between them and second-placed Chilaw Marians CC (58.905) to 20 points.

SSC who was lying sixth the previous weekend leapfrogged four places to become the new challenger to CCC for the Group A top spot by beating BRC outright.

 This was made possible when the other contenders for the top spot – Moors SC, Ragama CC and BRC all faltered in their matches played last weekend. Moors SC (59.925) are currently lying third and have a game in hand to make amends and catch up on the points they lost from last weekend’s match against CCC. 

However, it will not be easy for them as their opponents in the match commencing today is against SSC at the SSC grounds. Playing on their home turf Moors SC barely survived an outright defeat at the hands of CCC last week losing eight wickets for 241 chasing 304.

CCC on the other hand will be looking to gain full points when they host Kurunegala YCC (28.575) at the CCC grounds while Tamil Union also has an opportunity to extend their lead further when they meet Negombo CC (14.450) who are without a win in four matches and lie second from the bottom of Group B.  Chilaw Marians CC who have won all their five matches in the first innings will need to convert them into outright victories if they are to be with any chance of closing the widening gap with Tamil Union. They get a fine opportunity to do so when they meet Group B wooden spooners Bloomfield (12.035) at Bloomfield grounds.

Fourth-placed Army SC (48.890) who had the better of exchanges against Badureliya SC last weekend travelled to BOI Katunayake to play Ace Capital CC (32.175). In this game, the Army SC’s slow left-arm orthodox spinner Kaumal Nanayakkara, the leading wicket-taker of the season, requires eight wickets to reach 50 wickets. In the five matches played so far Nanayakkara has captured 42 wickets at 13.78. Third place Badureliya SC (54.070) take on Saracens SC (35.795) at the R Premadasa Stadium in what should turn out to be a close contest while fifth-placed NCC (45.225) not having a good season so far travel to Welisara where they will be hosted by Navy SC (26.975).

Fourth-placed Colts (57.445) from Group A who grabbed first innings points from Lankan CC in a high-scoring match last weekend will play Police SC (25.600) at Police Park, while fifth-placed Ragama CC (57.320) get an opportunity to grab maximum points when they meet the bottom of the table Kandy Customs SC (10.050) at Thurstan College grounds. All eyes in this game will be focused on Ragama CC’s Nishan Madushka who has been in terrific form with the bat. 

He is 75 runs shy of becoming the first player to reach 1,000 runs for this season. In the five matches played so far Madushka has accumulated 925 runs (avg. 185) and reeled off five centuries that includes a magnificent triple century (300*) against Sebastianites and a century in each innings of a match against Galle CC at the start of the season.  

Lankan CC v BRC at Panadura, Nugegoda SWC v Air Force SC at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, and Sebastianites v Kalutara TC at Moors grounds are the other matches commencing today.