Croospulle leads run chase as CCC turn tables on Chilaw Marians CC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Following an indifferent first innings batting performance where they conceded a lead of 18 runs to Chilaw Marians CC, CCC displayed their full colours in the second innings when they chased down a winning target of 196 to win outright by nine wickets their Major Club 3-day League match concluded at the Colts grounds yesterday. CCC were joined by NCC, Panadura SC and Ace Capital CC in securing full points.

Lasith Croospulle led the run chase for CCC with his 11th first-class hundred – an 81-ball knock for 128 that comprised 12 fours and 8 sixes sharing an opening partnership of 184 with Nishan Madushka (54* off 69 balls, 6 fours). It was Croospulle’s second hundred in successive matches having scored 155 against Colts last weekend. CCC snapped up the remaining two Chilaw Marians CC wickets for the addition of 22 runs to bowl their opponents out for 177 leaving themselves plenty of time to get the runs. Sri Lanka Test pacie Asitha Fernando captured the two wickets to end with figures of 4/40 and a match bag of 8/71.

NCC went to the top of Group B with an innings and 74 runs win over Badureliya SC at Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa. Replying to NCC’s total of 387, Badureliya SC were put out twice for 147 and 166 being forced to follow-on. The chief destroyer of their innings on both occasions was debutant Shakthi Udara, the left-arm spinner with a slingy action. The former Rajasinghe Central College, Hanwella and Ananda College, Colombo cricketer took a match bag of 8/119 (4/58 & 4/61).

Defending champions Bloomfield suffered a severe setback to their chances of qualifying for the Super Eights when they were beaten outright by 58 runs by Panadura SC at Surrey Village grounds, Maggona. Bloomfield, who trailed Panadura SC by 99 runs in the first innings did well to bowl their opponents out a second time for 126, which left them with a target of 226 to chase. But their batting faltered badly for the second time and they were bowled out for 167 with left-arm seamer Mohamed Dilshad making inroads into their batting ending with a match bag of 7/112. Only Ravindu Fernando put up any kind of resistance scoring 69* off 72 balls (11 fours) to follow his 5/39 in the Panadura SC second innings.

Ace Capital Capital CC came up with a much improved batting display in their second innings to beat BRC outright by 6 wickets at the P Sara Oval. Having conceded a first innings lead of 91, Ace Capital CC did well to dismiss BRC for 194 in their second innings leaving themselves with a target of 286 to chase. Spearheaded by a superb century from opener Pawantha Weerasinghe (121 off 128 balls, 15 fours, 2 sixes) and contributions of 59* (off 105 balls, 6 fours) and 49 from Kavindu Kulasekera and Ranesh Silva respectively, Ace Capital CC reached their target comfortably for the loss of four wickets. Spinners Roshan Jayatissa (match bag of 8/123) and Wanuja Sahan (7/89) took the wickets for Ace Capital CC.   

Defiant centuries from Sharujan Shanmuganathan (122* off 263 balls, 21 fours) and skipper Minod Bhanuka (173 off 202 balls, 22 fours, 1 six) and their partnership of 285 for the fourth wicket enabled Tamil Union to hit up their highest total of the season – 358/6 declared after being asked to follow-on and draw their match against Kurunegala YCC at the NCC grounds. Kurunegala YCC who used nine bowlers in the Tamil Union innings were 72-5 in their second innings after being set 122 to win. They took first innings points.

Police SC continued to head Group A widening the gap to 18 points with a first innings win against Nugegoda SWC at the Galle Cricket Stadium. Nugegoda SWC were dismissed for 229 in their first innings giving Police SC a lead of 119 which they stretched to 303 by declaring their second innings at 184-4. Left with a target of 304, Nugegoda SWC held out at 113-6. Left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera was the pick of the Police SC bowlers with a match bag of 9/124 (5/66 & 4/58). Dulash Udayanga scored 58* for Police SC in their second innings.