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Nishan Madushka and Roshen Silva during their partnership of 119 for Ragama CC against Sri Lanka Army CC at the CCC grounds yesterday
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Lahiru Udara, NCC’s sound right-handed opener, and the season’s most prolific run-getter with 973 runs, scored his third century and the fifth of his career to put his club in a strong position at the end of the first day of the key Premier Super Eight match against table leaders CCC, at the P Sara Oval yesterday.
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| NCC opener Lahiru Udara scored 111 against CCC on the opening day of their Premier Super Eight match played at the P Sara Oval yesterday |
NCC, winning the toss and batting first, were pushed onto the back foot by Lahiru Gamage when he sent back Sri Lanka Test wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella, edging a catch to his vis-à-vis Minod Bhanuka for a golden duck off the first ball of the match, and lost experienced Upul Tharanga for 16 to be 24-2 in the fifth over.
But Udara joined by former Sri Lanka player Mahela Udawatte steadied the early losses, with a third wicket stand of 174 that saw NCC reach an impressive 341 for five wickets by stumps.
Udara struck 16 fours in his innings of 111 off 165 balls, and Udawatte contributed an enduring 77 off 150 balls. Following their dismissals, Chaturanga de Silva (88 n.o. off 124 balls) and Sahan Arachchige (35 n.o.) frustrated the defending champions further in another useful partnership that has so far realised 115.
Since the recommencement of the domestic cricket tournament after the COVID-19 pandemic with the Premier Super Eight matches, Udara has been in brilliant form, scoring 105 against Sri Lanka Army and following it up with twin nineties (90 & 93) against BRC last weekend before yesterday’s knock.
In the other key game, Colts recovered from losing half their side for 127 to total a respectable 302 against Chilaw Marians. The damage to the Colts batting was done by Sri Lanka’s 23-year-old fast bowler Asitha Fernando, who ended with figures of 5 for 87 that included the wicket of former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews for a duck.
The Colts’ late order revival came from Sri Lankan spinners Dilruwan Perera and Akila Dananjaya, who each scored a fifty, after Santhush Gunathilaka had made a top score with a gritty 74 off 114 balls. By the close, Marians had got off to a good start posting 53 without loss in 11 overs.
Saracens SC struggled without their main strike bowler, Sri Lanka’s Kasun Rajitha, in their match against BRC. Rajitha was forced to miss out having pulled a hamstring after the game against CCC last week, where he played a key role in their first innings points win with a match haul of nine wickets.
BRC, seizing the opportunity, went onto score 319-6 with fine contributions from Shanuka Dulaj (94 off 142 balls) and Raminda Wijesooriya (64 n.o. off 112 balls) who put on 137 for the sixth wicket, and opener Nisal Francisco (52).
Opener Saminda Fernando hit a robust 92 off 95 balls (14 fours, 2 sixes), Sri Lanka Test batsman Roshen Silva scored a rock-solid 80 off 170 balls, and Nishan Madushka a compact 56 off 110 balls to see Ragama CC to a first day total of 294-5 against Sri Lanka Army.
All matches continue on the second day today.
Super Eight Day One scores
