Moors SC shocks SSC in high-scoring thriller

Centurions for Moors SC, skipper Mahela Udawatte (left) and Mohammed Shamaz figured in a 213-run partnership against SSC

Tamil Union opener Sadeera Samarawickrama plays a flowing drive in his unbeaten knock of 92* against Nugegoda S&WC 

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Moors SC were indebted to their 22-year-old left-arm spinner from St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, Praveen Jayawickrama, who not only returned his best figures in one-day cricket (3/65), but played a big hand in his team’s remarkable five-run win over fancied SSC in a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Major Limited Over Inter-Club Tournament match played at the SSC yesterday.

Chasing a target of 296, SSC seemed on course to win at 247/3 in the 43rd over, following a 159 runs liaison between Krishan Sanjula (77 off 97 balls) and Sammu Ashan; but once Jayawickrama had Sanjula stumped by Mohammed Shamaaz, he caused a collapse in their batting ranks, picking up two more wickets without conceding a run, and then being involved in a run out and a catch as SSC slumped to 274/8. When Ashan fell for a well compiled 102 off 95 balls (three sixes, nine fours) in the penultimate over, getting 14 off the final over proved beyond SSC’s last pair, who managed only eight. Earlier, Moors SC’s total of 295/7 featured a double century stand of 213 between skipper Mahela Udawatte (116 off 117 balls, nine fours, two sixes) and 20-year-old former Zahirian Shamaaz, who struck 12 fours and two sixes in constructing his maiden one-day hundred (111 off 116 balls).  

Defending champs Chilaw Marians CC suffered their second straight defeat when Navy SC pulled off a close three-wicket win with four balls to spare. Chasing a victory target of 241, Navy SC were indebted to their seventh wicket pair Tharushan Iddamalgoda (33*) and Chamod Sandaru (42) who added a valuable 77 off 65 balls to see them home.

Sri Lanka’s tall and lanky left-arm fast bowler Binura Fernando took his first five-for at this level of cricket – 6/28 off 10 overs to bowl Ragama CC to a seven-wicket win over Panadura SC and maintain their top position in Group B with four wins out of four. Panadura SC’s top order was rocked by Fernando, who had them reeling at 23/5 before recovering to 208. Ragama CC made short work of that total reaching it with plenty to spare.  

Sri Lanka cricketers returning to competitive cricket after injury had mixed fortunes. CCC captain Kusal Mendis, who missed the West Indies tour with a leg injury, was out for a second ball duck against BRC. It was Mendis’ fifth duck in his last six innings. Mendis’ Sri Lanka and club teammate Wanindu Hasaranga, who was forced to miss the ongoing Test series against West Indies after a hamstring strain, took 2/34 in CCC’s six-wicket win over BRC.

Group C leaders NCC fought back from being dismissed for a below par score of 177 to beat Negombo CC by 14 runs in an exciting contest at FTZ grounds – Katunayake. Negombo CC at one time was sitting pretty on 137/4 in 37 overs, requiring a further 41 runs off 13 overs with six wickets in hand; but 21-year-old former Dharmaloka College – Kelaniya left-arm leg-spinner Yugeesha Dilshan, making his club debut turned the match around for NCC with a superb spell of bowling, taking 4/25, that saw Negombo’s last six wickets tumble for 26 runs. Dilshan, who was a reserve in the squad, came into the side because one of NCC’s key players Hasitha Boyagoda was unavailable, having contracted dengue.

Priyamal Perera hit a 95-ball century and Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya took four wickets to help Colts crush Police SC by 197 runs.

A fine all-round team performance by Saracens SC saw them beat Sebastianites by 98 runs and move to third place in Group D.

Skipper Gihan Rupasinghe powered his way to a career best score of 117* off 81 balls (13 fours, four sixes) and put on an unbroken stand of 95 with Insaka Siriwardene (23*) to give Kalutara Town Club their first win of the tournament, beating Ace Capital CC by six wickets.  

Other teams to win were Army SC, Bloomfield, Tamil Union and Galle CC.

RESULTS

At Air Force – Katunayake

Bloomfield 205/8 (50) (Ian Daniel 30, Sachin Jayawardena 85, Nipun Haggalla 24, Deshan Fernando 35*, Lasanda Rukmal 2/51, Anuk de Alwis 2/23) beat Air Force SC 171 (43.1) (Asantha Singapulli 69, Movin Subasingha 42, Gayan Sirisoma 3/15, Deshan Fernando 2/24, Dileepa Jayalath 3/40) by 34 runs.

At Panagoda

Kandy Customs CC 116 (33.2) (Dilasri Lokubandara 23, Sajith de Silva 28, Hasitha Nirmal 20, Maheesh Theekshana 3/16, Dushan Vimukthi 3/23, Seekkuge Prasanna 3/41) lost to Army SC 117/3 (21.5) (Samitha Dilshan 30, Himasha Liyanage 52*, Sampath Perera 2/35) by seven wickets. 

At BRC

BRC 119 (30.5) (Lahiru Samarakoon 50, Lahiru Gamage 2/12, Malinda Pushpakumara 3/21, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/34) lost to CCC 122/4 (17.2) (Ron Chandraguptha 44, Minod Bhanuka 33, Ashan Priyanjan 32) by six wickets.

At Bloomfield

Panadura SC 208 (38.4) (Nimesh Vimukthi 24, Koshan Danushka 67, Charith Jayampathi 53, Binura Fernando 6/28, Janaka Sampath 2/26) lost to Ragama CC 211/3 (37.5) (Saminda Fernando 43, Nishan Madushka 82, Manisha Rupasinghe 22, Janith Liyanage 35*, Iwanka Sanjula 2/53) by seven wickets. 

At Welisara

Chilaw Marians CC 240/8 (50) (Lasith Croospulle 29, Rumesh Buddika 30, Kamindu Mendis 67, Kasun Vidura 38, Raveen Yasas 38*, Buddika Madushan 4/39, Chanaka Ruwansiri 3/44) lost to Navy SC 241/7 (49.2) (Johanne de Zilva 23, Buddika Madushan 32, Aravinda Akurugoda 22, Thushara Samarakoon 24, Chanaka Ruwansiri 51, Tharushan Iddamalgoda 33*, Chamod Sandaru 42, Avindu Theekshana 2/43, Lasith Croospulle 2/24) by three wickets.

At Surrey Village – Maggona

Lankan CC 192 (49.3) (Sawan Kankanamge 24, Damitha Silva 40, Risith Upamal 41, Keshan Wijeratne 25, Eranga Ratnayake 2/41, Chalana de Silva 2/34, Chatura Lakshan 3/24) lost to Galle CC 193/6 (44.4) (Imesh Udayanga 38, Raju Gayashan 52, Dilshan Kanchana 34*, Chatura Lakshan 25*, Damith Silva 2/35) by four wickets.

At FTZ – Katunayake

NCC 177 (48.3) (Yugeesha Dilshan 21, Chaturanga de Silva 54, Chamika Karunaratne 48*, Dilshan Munaweera 2/37, Nisala Tharaka 2/33, Nishan Peiris 3/32, Madawa Warnapura 2/32) beat Negombo CC 163 (47.1) (Lahiru Milantha 23, Ashen Silva 54, Madawa Warnapura 20, Ashian Daniel 2/24, Yugeesha Dilshan 4/25) by 14 runs. 

At P. Sara Oval

Nugegoda S&WC 209/7 (50) (Malinga Maligaspe 30, Lahiru Jayakody 65, Muditha Lakshan 45, Pramud Hettiwatte 20, Shiran Fernando 3/41, Isuru Udana 2/16) lost to Tamil Union 210/3 (36.4) (Sadeera Samarawickrama 92*, Supun Kavinda 25, Manoj Sarathchandra 50, Ranmith Jayasena 28*, Nipun Lakshan 2/55) by seven wickets.

At Arons CC grounds – Kalutara

Ace Capital CC 214/5 (50) (Irosh Samarasooriya 24, Yohan de Silva 22, Adeesha Nanayakkara 38, Ishan Rangana 68*, Shashrika Pussegolla 35, Rajinda Punchihewa 2/51) lost to Kalutara TC 215/4 (43.2) (Geshan Wimaladharma 31, Lahiru Attanayake 34, Gihan Rupasinghe 117*, Insaka Siriwardene 23*) by six wickets. 

At SSC

Moors SC 295/7 (50) (Mahela Udawatte 116, Mohammed Shamaaz 111, Kalana Perera 4/49, Prabath Jayasuriya 2/66) beat SSC 290/9 (50) (Avishka Fernando 42, Charith Asalanka 38, Krishan Sanjula 77, Sammu Ashan 102, Dilesh Gunaratne 2/75, Praveen Jayawickrama 3/65, Adeesha Thilanchana 2/36) by five runs. 

At Moratuwa

Saracens SC 276/5 (50) (Charitha Kumarasinghe 51, Hashan Dumindu 73, Promod Maduwantha 60, Sanjaya Chaturanga 30*, Hashen Ramanayake 23*, Charith Rajapakse 2/55, Matheesha Perera 2/51) beat Sebastianites 178/9 (50) (Hasantha Fernando 37, Manelker de Silva 58*, Suchira Paranathala 26, Chaminda Bandara 2/33, Akash Senaratne 2/20, Ayana Siriwardhana 2/32) by 98 runs. 

At Colts

Colts 313-7 (50) (Sangeeth Cooray 40, Dhananjaya Lakshan 26, Priyamal Perera 101, Kithuruwan Vithanage 37, Vishad Randika 69, Sujan Mayura 3/35, Malith de Silva 2/57) beat Police SC 116 (26.1) (Shehan Fernando 15, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/22, Akila Dananjaya 4/22, Santhush Gunathilaka 3/28) by 197 runs.