Saracens join table-toppers CCC, NCC, SSC

CCC’s left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara destroyed Kandy Customs with figures of 4/9

• Rain forces no results in two matches

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Group A leaders CCC joined Group B leaders NCC as the only clubs to record four consecutive wins in the SLC Major T20 Inter-Club Tournament when the group matches were continued yesterday, while

Colts all-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan acknowledges his half-century against Bloomfield

Saracens SC also kept their unbeaten record intact when rain forced a no-result in their game against Navy SC at FTZ Grounds – Katunayake.

The one point Saracens SC gained from that result saw them go to the top of Group D. SSC heads Group C, but only marginally on a better net run rate from Kurunegala YCC. Both teams have six points apiece. The BRC v Nugegoda S&WC match also ended in a no-result at the SSC grounds with rain again being the cause.

The top two teams from each of the four groups go through to the knockout round – the quarterfinals.  

CCC was given some anxious moments by Kandy Customs CC before securing their fourth win in as many matches. Having shot out Kandy Customs for 91, courtesy of two Sri Lankan bowlers Malinda Pushpakumara (4/9) and Lahiru Madushanka (3/25), CCC’s batting wobbled as they lost six wickets in chasing down the moderate target. It was achieved largely due to Lasith Abeyratne’s contribution of 53 off 35 balls.

Promising T20 all-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan scored his maiden half-century at this level to steer Colts to a 20-run win over Bloomfield. Lakshan produced his innings at a time when Colts choosing to bat first, had lost six wickets for 84 runs in the 15th over. He shouldered responsibility to smack three sixes while scoring 63 off 47 balls to help Colts to a decent total of 146-8. Bloomfield in their run chase was pegged down to a total of 126/6 by leg-spinner Saranga Rajaguru, who finished with figures of 3/22.

Chilaw Marians CC Skipper Thikshila de Silva scored his fifth T20 half-century and shared an opening stand of 66 with Lasith Croospulle (29) to help his team defeat Police SC by 34 runs. De Silva struck four sixes in his 43-ball knock.

Sri Lankan cricketer Asela Gunaratne and Himasha Liyanage scored unbeaten fifties and figured in an unbroken third wicket stand of 108 to guide Army SC to a convincing seven-wicket win over the Sebastianites. Gunaratne scored 58 off 47 balls and Liyanage 51 off 35 balls with each of them hitting three sixes and three fours to help Army recover from an early slump, losing 3/35 chasing 142 for victory.

Results

At SSC

Kandy Customs CC 91 (18.4) (Vishva Wijeratne 36, Lahiru Madushanka 3/25, Malinda Pushpakumara 4/9) lost to CCC 92-6 (15.3) (Lasith Abeyratne 53, Isitha Wijesundera 3/24, Sachitra Perera 3/13) by four wickets.

Nugegoda S&WC 164-8 (19) (Umesh Karunaratne 38, Pramud Hettiwatte 66, Muditha Lakshan 21, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 3/26, Lahiru Samarakoon 3/24) v BRC – No result due to rain 

At CCC

Colts 146-8 (20) (Sangeeth Cooray 33, Dhananjaya Lakshan 63, Dileepa Jayalath 2/15, Madushan Ravichandrakumar 2/31) beat Bloomfield 126-6 (20) (Sachin Jayawardena 32, Harsha Vithana 25, Saranga Rajaguru 3/22) by 20 runs.

At Colts

Chilaw Marians CC 164-7 (20) (Lasith Croospulle 29, Thikshila de Silva 54, Rumesh Buddika 36, Kasun Vidura 29, Danal Hemanda 2/35, Malith de Silva 3/22) beat Police SC 130-8 (20) (Dulash Udayanga 25, Sujan Mayura 29, Avindu Theekshana 2/28, Pulina Tharanga 3/23, Raveen Yasas 2/17) by 34 runs.

At FTZ – Katunayake

Sebastianites 141-4 (20) (Sameen Kandanearachchi 55, Manelker de Silva 23, Sachitha Jayatilake 26*, Asela Gunaratne 2/22) lost to Army SC 143-3 (16.3) (Asela Gunaratne 58*, Himash Liyanage 51*, Charith Rajapakse 2/15) by seven wickets.

Saracens SC 132-7 (19) (Promod Maduwantha 23, Navindu Vithanage 22, Dilanka Auwardt 2/21, Buddika Madushan 3/24, Chanaka Ruwansiri 2/37) v Navy SC – No result due to rain