Anjala Bandara’s maiden double ton puts CCC on top against Police SC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Left-hander Anjala Bandara scored his maiden double century and the second in the current Major Club 3-Day League to put CCC on a firm footing on the second day of their match against Group A table leaders Police SC at the NCC Grounds yesterday.

The former Mahanama College cricketer hit 11 fours and 2 sixes in his unbeaten knock of 200 scored off 338 balls for CCC to declare at 482-6. Bandara added 226 for the fifth wicket with his Captain Sonal Dinusha (121 off 182 balls, 12 fours). Anjala Bandara’s innings was witnessed by Police SC skipper Ashen Bandara, whose score of 200 he equalled. 

Police SC were struggling at 106-6, trailing by 376 runs going into the third and final day today.

Off-spinner Nishan Peiris caused the Police SC slide, capturing 3/36 which included the wicket of top-scorer Dhanuja Induwara for 49.

In a crucial match taking place at the CCC Grounds, Colts gained a handy first innings lead against Panadura SC. 

In reply to Colts’ first innings of 336, Panadura SC were bundled out for 148 by versatile spinner Akila Dananjaya (7/39 off 20 overs), giving Colts a lead of 188, which they stretched to 322 by the close scoring 134 without loss, with Ravindu Rasantha scoring 70* off 129 balls (6 fours) and Sangeeth Cooray 64* off 123 balls (9 fours). Sri Lanka Test opener Oshada Fernando, leading Panadura SC, made a top score of 42.

Similarly, Tamil Union had their game against Ace Capital CC at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium in control. An unbeaten century from Sharujan Shanmuganathan (103* off 196 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes), his third of the season, saw Tamil Union make 312 in reply to Ace Capital CC’s 206, and gain a first innings lead of 106. 

Spinners Roshan Jayatissa (4/103) and Wanuja Sahan (4/119) were the most successful bowlers for Ace Capital CC, who finished the day on 98-3, trailing by eight runs with seven second innings wickets in hand.

Chilaw Marians CC ended the second day of their match against Bloomfield at the Galle Cricket Stadium needing 40 runs with five wickets in hand to gain a first innings lead. 

Replying to Bloomfield’s score of 312, Chilaw Marians CC made 272-5, their innings largely based on the second wicket partnership of 125 between Thanuka Dabare (87 off 122 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) and Tharindu Amarasinghe (88 off 145 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes).

NCC and BRC were involved in a struggle to gain a first innings lead at Surrey Village Grounds, Maggona. 

BRC, resuming at 360-7, were all out for 396, with Raminda Wijesooriya scoring 70 off 75 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) and left-arm spinner Shakthi Udara taking 4/129. Openers Niroshan Dickwella (65 off 61 balls, 9 fours) and Lahiru Udara (65 off 88 balls, 10 fours) mounted NCC’s reply with a stand of 122. Ahan Wickramasinghe contributed 63 off 86 balls (6 fours, 1 six) for NCC to end the day at 333-7. They trail by 63 runs with three wickets in hand. Off-spinner Murvin Abinash had career-best figures of 6/103. 

Group B leaders Moors SC had a fight on their hands to gain the vital first innings lead in their match against bottom-of-the-table Badureliya SC at Colts Grounds. 

Badureliya SC hit up an impressive 486, with skipper Geeth Kumara and Suminda Lakshan figuring in a seventh wicket stand of 119. Kumara struck 20 fours and 5 sixes in his 316-ball knock of 185, and Lakshan 6 fours and 2 sixes in scoring 66 off 109 balls. Malinda Pushpakumara chipped in with a useful 41* off 76 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes) to see Badureliya SC pass the 450-run mark. Left-arm spinner Chanuka Dilshan took 5/81. 

Moors SC began well, scoring 127-1, but the loss of three cheap wickets for 32 runs in the final hour saw them finish on 159-4 to trail by a massive 327 runs with six wickets intact. 

All the matches will continue on their third and final day today.