Batsmen make merry on rain-free day

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Test stars Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, and Himasha Liyanage thumped centuries on a rain-free second day of the SLC Major Club 3-Day tournament to place their respective clubs in a strong position. 

Chandimal struck his 36th first-class century as Colts ended the day on 329-8, a lead of 97 runs against Chilaw Marians CC, at the P. Sara Oval. 

Chandimal’s superb knock of 152 off 176 balls was studded with 9 fours and 4 sixes, and along with Shalin de Mel’s 76 (94 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes), Colts batted themselves into a position of strength. Earlier, seamer Harshana Wickramasinghe – career-best 4/44 – and spinner Akila Dananjaya (3/77) bowled Chilaw Marians CC out for 232, where only Lasith Lakshan (52 off 62 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) and Kalhara Senarathne (59 off 106 balls, 5 fours) made any noteworthy contributions with the bat. 

Sri Lanka Test Captain Dhananjaya de Silva led the way for CCC with his 28th first-class hundred, as they reached an imposing 452-9 declared against Nugegoda SWC at the SSC Grounds. 

Sahan Kosala fell early for 75 (117 balls, 6 fours, 1 six), and de Silva for 117 (127 balls, 11 fours, 1 six), but Pavan Rathnayake (98 off 107 balls, 5 fours, 5 sixes) and Sonal Dinusha (37) stitched together a partnership of 130 for CCC to reach their final total. Off-spinner Maduka Liyanapathiranage was the pick of the Nugegoda SWC bowlers with 6/115. By stumps, Nugegoda SWC were struggling at 141-5, with off-spinner Nishan Peiris claiming 3/36. Lohan de Zoysa scored 51 (106 balls, 5 fours).

Pasindu Sooriyabandara scored his 13th first-class century to steer Moors SC to a challenging total of 336-8 declared against BRC at Colts grounds. 

Sooriyabandara struck five fours in his 218-ball 100 that helped Moors SC recover from 99-3. With skipper Ramesh Mendis, Sooriyabandara added 111 for the fifth wicket. Left-arm spinner Shashika Dulshan was the pick of the BRC bowlers, ending with 4/108. By stumps, BRC were 26-1.

An unbeaten century (106* off 183 balls, 6 fours, 5 sixes) from Himasha Liyanage and half-centuries from Pawantha Weerasinghe (65 off 88 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Nimesha Gunasinghe (85 off 156 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) saw Ace Capital CC reach 406-9 declared against Kurunegala YCC at the Welagedara Stadium. Fast bowler Dinushka Malan took 5/66 off 32 overs. In reply, Kurunegala YCC had lost four wickets for 70 and trailed Ace Capital CC by 336 runs.

Former Benedictine Captain and Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer Sharujan Shanmuganathan scored his maiden first-class hundred to help Tamil Union reach 347 against Badureliya SC at the CCC grounds. 

Shanmuganathan, who has not scored a 50 in any of his first four first-class matches, batted with authority to reach the boundary on seven 

occasions and three over it in compiling 123 off 230 balls. Shanmuganathan held the innings together and was last man out, helping Tamil Union recover from 112-5. Sachitha Jayatilake contributed 51. Seamer Buddika Sanjeewa took 4/73. Badureliya SC were 68-2 at the close.

A combination of seam and spin saw Panadura SC gain a first innings lead over Police SC at Surrey Village, Maggona. 

Spinners Dushan Vimukthi (4/33) and Nimesh Vimukthi (2/26) and seamer Asanka Manoj (3/42) dismissed Police SC for 155 in reply to Panadura SC’s first innings of 196. By the close, Panadura SC had extended their overall lead to 235, ending the day at 194-8. Skipper Oshada Fernando (47) and Irosh Samarasooriya (48) gave them a good start by posting 77 for the first wicket before left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera spun a web around the rest of the batting, taking his second five-fer in the match. 

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