Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday, 29 December 2025 02:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Following centuries from Lasith Croospulle and Kamindu Mendis on the opening day, CCC’s middle order batsmen made full use of a good batting track at the P. Sara Oval to notch up the highest total in the ongoing tournament – 595/6 declared on the second day of their Major Club 3-Day League match against Colts yesterday.
Test Captain Dhananjaya de Silva (88 off 124 balls, 10 fours), Pavan Rathnayake (77 off 141 balls, 9 fours), skipper Sonal Dinusha (55* off 50 balls, 1 four, 1 six), and Sahan Kosala (81 off 55 balls, 7 fours, 5 sixes) all struck half-centuries as they joined the run parade. de Silva and Rathnayake shared a fourth wicket stand of 163, and Dinusha and Kosala an entertaining partnership of 134 off 96 balls for the sixth wicket, before the brakes were finally applied. Colts began well, with openers Ravindu Rasantha (47) and Sangeeth Cooray (50 off 112 balls, 5 fours) posting 96, but collapsed to 119-4 by the close to trail by 476 runs.
Kamil Mishara hit an aggressive 91 off 100 balls (12 fours) and skipper Sahan Arachchige scored 64 off 85 balls (5 fours) to help NCC recover from a bad start – 14-2 – and post 301-9 declared in reply to Kurunegala YCC’s first innings of 217 in their match continued at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa. By the close, Kurunegala YCC, trailing by 84 runs, had made 40-1 in their second innings.
Moors SC’s middle order came to their rescue helping them gain a first innings lead of 84 against Ace Capital CC at the Colts Grounds.
Sohan de Livera made a forceful 82 off 80 balls (10 fours) and there were contributions of 48, 39, and 62 (off 128 balls, 8 fours) from Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sithara Gimhan, and Captain Ramesh Mendis, respectively that enabled Moors SC to recover from 61-3 and finish on 336-7 in reply to Ace Capital CC’s 252.
Defending champions Bloomfield gained a handy first innings lead of 49 runs when they dismissed Nugegoda SWC for 271 at the CCC Grounds.
Madhuka Liyanapathiranage (60 off 125 balls, 9 fours), Kevin Perera (54 off 96 balls, 6 fours), and Rahul Gunasekara (73 off 111 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) all made fifties but it was not sufficient to get them past Bloomfield’s first innings of 320. Left-arm spinner Duvindu Tillakaratne took 4/53. By the close, Bloomfield had scored 35-1 to lead by 84.
Chilaw Marians CC and Panadura SC were involved in a close tussle for first innings points at the NCC Grounds.
Kasun Vidura missed out on a century by two runs (98 off 230 balls, 8 fours) as Chilaw Marians CC resumed their first innings reaching 322. By the close, Panadura SC, inspired by former Cambrian Vishva Chathuranga’s century (111 off 164 balls, 13 fours), replied with 225-5 to trail by 97 runs.
A 93-run stand for the seventh wicket between Vinura Dulsara (56 off 148 balls, 3 fours) and Captain Alankara Asanka (59 off 180 balls, 4 fours) helped Badureliya SC recover from 138-6 and post a decent total of 290 against BRC at the Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala.
Pacie Mohamed Shiraz was the pick of the BRC bowlers with 5/76. By the close, BRC were in a wobble at 99-4, still 191 runs in arrears.
All the matches will continue on its third and final day today.
