Eight clubs record wins in rain-free weekend

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

BRC’s chances of heading the SLC Major League Inter-Club Group A table took a beating when they were thrashed by an innings and 21 runs by Ragama CC at the Moors SC grounds over the weekend. 

Trailing by a massive deficit of 253 runs, BRC starting the final day at 41-1 folded up for 232 despite a valiant century from opener Leo Fransisco who carried his bat out for 104 off 213 balls (11 fours). Left-arm spinner Shashika Dulshan was the chief wrecker of the BRC second innings finishing with career best figures of 7 for 99. 

Ragama CC made 413-9 declared with Nishan Madushka scoring his fourth century in as many matches. Ragama CC moved to second spot in the group behind leaders Moors SC (who had a free weekend) relegating BRC to third position. On a rain-free weekend, eight clubs recorded outright wins out of the 12 matches.

Sri Lanka Test fast bowler Vishwa Fernando and spinner Malinda Pushpakumara bagged eight wickets apiece in the match for defending champions CCC to beat Colts by five wickets at Colts grounds. Colts starting the day at 136-5 were all out for 233 leaving CCC a target of 123 to win which they achieved losing half the side.   

Spinners Parvez Rasool of India and Chalana de Silva took 17 wickets between them to bowl Chilaw Marians CC to a comprehensive innings and nine runs win over Navy SC at Maggona. Rasool capped a fine all-round performance scoring 135 in Badureliya SC’s total of 359 and taking a match bag of nine wickets for 123 (5 for 53 in the second innings) as Navy were dismissed for 190 and 160.

Spinners Tharindu Ratnayake (match bag of 9/136) and Chamikara Edirisinghe (7/129) bowled Sebastianites to their first win of the tournament when they Police SC by eight wickets at the CCC grounds. Resuming at 214-8 in their second innings Police SC were all out for 239, leaving Sebastianites with enough time to reach a target of 129 which they achieved in 32 overs with Lohan de Zoysa leading the run chase with a maiden first-class 50 – 75* off 100 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes).

Left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera recorded his maiden ten-wicket match haul (10/129) to bowl Group B leaders Tamil Union to a 270-run win over Air Force SC at Katunayake. Continuing from their overnight score of 117-3 Tamil Union declared their second innings closed at 221-8, leaving Air Force an imposing target of 358 to chase. The Airmen simply crumbled to the spin of Sudeera and his partner off-spinner Ravindu Fernando (match bag of 7/84) folding up tamely for 87.

SSC secured their first outright win of the season beating Kalutara TC by nine wickets at the SSC grounds thanks to Sri Lanka Test left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya who took a match bag of eight wickets for 107 to dismiss Kalutara TC for 204 and 207.

Sakidu Wijeratne, Maliyadeva Kurunegala’s 19-year-old left-arm spinner took a career best 6 for 20 (match bag of 9/67) to bowl Kurunegala YCC to a 261-run win over Lankan CC at Panadura. Kurunegala YCC declared their second innings at 230-7 after resuming at 84-1 leaving Lankan CC the tall task of chasing 363 for victory. They were dismissed for 101.

Galle CC beat Kandy Customs CC by 143 runs at Thurstan grounds. A fighting innings of 94* off 120 balls (12 fours, 2 sixes) from Ravindra Karunaratne failed to save Kandy Customs CC who were bowled out for 151. Galle closed their second innings 209-5 with Sameen Kandanearachchi scoring 92 off 115 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes).

Army SC played out a draw against NCC at Panagoda with NCC taking first innings points. Army’s left-arm spinner Kaumal Nanayakkara, the leading wicket-taker of the season finished with a match bag of 12 wickets. A maiden first-class century from Navindu Vithanage (103* off 188 balls, 4 fours) and his fifth wicket stand of 171 with Thaveesha Kahaduwarachchi (84 off 141 balls, 11 fours) saw Saracens SC draw against Chilaw Marians after being forced to follow-on at the R Premadasa Stadium. 

At Moratuwa, Nugegoda SWC’s overseas Indian recruit Murtaza Trunkwala scored a century in each innings (123 and 101) in their drawn game against Ace Capital CC. Bloomfield avoided an innings defeat holding out to 227-6 after being forced to follow-on 291 runs in arrears against Panadura SC at Bloomfield grounds. Panadura SC’s left-arm spinner Nimesh Vimukthi took a match bag of ten wickets.