Air Force SC move to second spot in Group A on another rain-truncated day

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Air Force SC moved to second spot in Group A behind SSC of the SLC Major T20 inter-club tournament when they beat Ace Capital CC by 32 runs in another rain-truncated day of matches yesterday.

The game was reduced to a 15-over affair and Air Force SC put into bat first scored 118-8. In reply Ace Capital CC, despite the presence of national Test batsman Oshada Fernando, were shot out for 86. Movin Subasingha, the former Wesleyite all-rounder, produced a good performance for the Airmen scoring a useful 24 and capturing 2 wickets for 21 runs with his off-breaks. 

It was the Air Force SC spinners who won the game for them with Nadeera Ishan, Madushanka Premaratne and Deshan Fernando also contributing with seven wickets between them.  

In a six-over shoot-out at the P. Sara Oval, Bloomfield beat Navy SC by 16 runs. Former Benedictine left-arm spinner 20-year-old Malinda Perera playing in only his second T20 match took three wickets for six runs to restrict Navy SC to 30-4 in pursuit of 47.

The other four matches that were down for decision ended in a No Result with rain taking the upper hand.

Only a few overs were possible in the three matches that were scheduled to commence in the morning and in one of them Group A leaders SSC put into bat first by CCC lost the wickets of national cricketers Kusal Mendis for seven and Charith Asalanka for nine before rain washed out play after five overs with the total on 24-2.

Army SC had Kurunegala YCC struggling at 44-4 off 13 overs when the game came to a permanent halt. Following an expensive opening over from Army SC skipper Thisara Perera who conceded 11 runs, Army SC hit back through Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theeshana who got the first scalp and had figures of one for 13 off three overs before the match ended.

In a match reduced to 18 overs a side, only 4.1 overs were possible with Galle CC taking first lease of the wicket making 25-2 against Kalutara TC.

The only game where not a single ball was bowled was between Lankan CC and Badureliya SC.

Results

• At CCC: No Result (rain) – Galle CC 25-2 (4.1) v Kalutara TC
• At CCC: No Result (not a ball bowled – rain) – Lankan CC v Badureliya SC
• At P. Sara Oval: No Result (rain) – SSC 24-2 (5) v CCC
• At SSC: No Result (rain) – Kurunegala YCC 44-4 (13) v Army SC

At P. Sara Oval: Bloomfield beat Navy SC by 16 runs

• Bloomfield 46-7 (6) (Lahiru Madushanka 18, Dilanka Auwardt 3/16, Poorna Charuka 2/9)
• Navy SC 30-4 (6) (Lahiru Jayakody 12*, Malinda Perera 3/6)

At SSC: Air Force SC beat Ace Capital CC by 32 runs 

• Air Force SC 118-8 (15) (Movin Subasingha 24, Lasanda Rukmal 31, Chanaka Devinda 4/17)
• Ace Capital CC 86 (14.5) (Shehan Fernando 21, Sithum Dissanayake 32, Movin Subasingha 2/21, Nadeera Ishan 2/11, Madushanka Premaratne 3/12, Deshan Fernando 2/7)