Chilaw Marian CC’s Lakshan dents Tamil Union’s unbeaten run

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Lasith Lakshan of Chilaw Marians CC destroyed the Tamil Union batting with figures of 11/123

Left-arm spinner Nimesh Vimukthi starred in Panadura SC’s win with eleven wickets in the match

Tharindu Ratnayake took a career best 8/138 for Sebastianites v Galle CC

Chilaw Marians CC dented Group B table leaders Tamil Union’s unbeaten record this season when they pulled off an astonishing 203-run win in the SLC Major League inter-club match played at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

The hero of Chilaw Marians CC’s win was former Matara Thomian all-rounder Lasith Lakshan who ran through the Tamil Union batting twice to finish with his first ten-wicket match haul (11/123). Tamil Union succumbed twice to Lakshan’s off-breaks being dismissed for 155 and 150.

Lakshan (26) making full use of playing professional cricket in the English leagues struck with figures of 6/57 and 5/66. The win propelled Chilaw Marians CC to second place behind Tamil Union with 21 points separating the two teams.

Group A table toppers and defending champions CCC did not encounter any such problems coasting to a comfortable nine-wicket win over BRC at the CCC grounds.

Left with 202 to chase for victory, CCC made light of that target scoring 202-1 with skipper Ashan Priyanjan leading the way with a half-century (55 with 7 fours, 1 six) to follow his excellent match bag of 13/152 that included figures of 8/51 in the first innings – both career best performances. Nimesha Gunasinghe 86* (9 fours, 1 six) and Minod Bhanuka 52* (5 fours, 4 sixes) also contributed towards the CCC run chase. BRC were dismissed for 153 and 258.

Left-arm spinner Nimesh Vimukthi also came up with two career best bowling performances - match figures of 11/141 and innings figures of 7/43 to help Panadura SC defeat Nugegoda SWC by an innings and 28 runs at Panadura. Nugegoda SWC was shot out for 75 and following-on made 289 in reply to Panadura SC’s 392.

Moors SC’s chances of reducing the gap between them and CCC suffered a setback when they conceded first innings points to Colts at Colts grounds. Dismissed for a disappointing 126 Moors SC put up a better batting display in the second innings to finish on 334-5, thanks to a defiant century on first-class debut by Janishka Perera (135* off 305 balls, 12 fours) and an equally determined innings of 80 (7 fours) from Kavindu Kulasekara. Colts scored 468-9 declared.

The left-arm spin of Dileepa Jayalath (5/51) and the leg-spin of Pakistani Hasnain Bokhari (5/38) brought Bloomfield their first win of the season – a 10 wickets triumph over Navy SC at Welisara. Sebastianites’ ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake took a career best 8/138 to deny Galle CC first innings points at the P Sara Oval. Replying to Sebastianites first innings of 297, Galle CC resuming at 167-3 fell agonisingly short by 14 runs being dismissed for 284.

Kurunegala YCC took first innings points from Kandy Customs CCC at the NCC grounds. Kandy Customs beginning the final day promisingly at 103-1 chasing KYCC’s first innings total of 407, were dismissed for 314 with Rashmika Madushanka making a top score of 91 (9 fours) and left-arm spinner Naveen Gunawardene taking four wickets for KYCC.

Ragama CC held out to a draw against SSC scoring 285-7 following-on after being rolled over for 140 in the first innings in reply to SSC’s 387 at Thurstan’s grounds. SSC and Sri Lanka Test spinner Prabath Jayasuriya finished with a match bag of 11/173. NCC had to be content with first innings points after forcing Saracens to follow-on at Moors SC grounds. Dismissed for 218 in the first innings replying to NCC’s 475, Saracens SC held out in their second innings to finish on 229-7.

Negombo CC (284-9) took first innings points from Army SC (215) at Panagoda and the rain interrupted match between Kalutara TC (269) and Police SC (206-5) ended in a tame draw at Dombagoda. On Saturday Ace Capital SC scored their second successive outright win defeating Air Force SC by an innings and 22 runs inside two days at Katunayake.