Defending champs Ace Capital CC break losing sequence

• SLC Major Clubs 50-Over Tournament

Defending champions Ace Capital CC finally got their act together to record their first win in the SLC Major Clubs 50-Over Tournament, but may have left it for a little too late for them to qualify for a place in the semi-finals.

At the bottom of Group A after three successive defeats, Ace Capital CC finally broke the losing sequence by pulling off a thrilling 10-run win against Panadura SC in a high-scoring game played at the Panadura esplanade yesterday, to put their first points on the board. 

Ace Capital CC defended their total of 312-7 by bowling Panadura SC out for 302. A splendid career-best knock of 121* off 93 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) by former Thurstan College wicket-keeper/batsman Ranesh Silva formed the backbone of Ace Capital CC’s innings. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha was the pick of the Panadura SC bowlers with 4/65. 

Panadura SC were off to a flyer, posting 98 in the first powerplay, but lost four wickets in doing so. They kept the momentum going right throughout the innings, but the loss of wickets at regular intervals proved to be their downfall. Vishen Halambage set the pace with a scorching 67 off 25 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) and there were contributions of 47 off 27 balls from the Captain, Hemantha, and the late order, but the run out of Malintha Silva (25 off 24) sealed the deal for Ace Capital CC. 

Colts, Moors SC, and losing finalists CCC – all of them in the running for the top two spots in Group B – s ecured wins. 

Colts beat their Havelock Park rivals BRC by a thumping margin of 115 runs at BRC grounds. Colts put up a moderate score of 238, where Angelo Mathews’ 45 off 44 balls (1 four, 3 sixes) was the top score, while Mahanama College left-arm spinner Chamika Heenatigala picked up his first wickets at this level of competition with 4/30 in his second match. BRC were bundled out for 123 by the left-arm spin of Muditha Lakshan, who returned career-best figures of 6/34.

In a slow scoring game at Moors grounds, the host beat Nugegoda SWC by six wickets. Pathum Kumara’s 59 off 74 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) formed the basis of Nugegoda SWC’s innings. But a 68-run stand between Sadeera Samarawickrama (41* off 55) and skipper Ramesh Mendis (run-a-ball 37) saw Moors SC home comfortably with 144 balls to spare.

CCC beat Kurunegala YCC by six wickets on their home turf, with Nishan Madushka returning to form with 76 off 108 balls (8 fours, 1 six) as CCC chased down a target of 191. Madushka had a poor run in the recently concluded ODI series against Bangladesh, scoring 24 runs in three innings. Left-arm bowlers Vishwa Fernando (3/17) and Inuka Karannagoda (3/44) kept Kurunegala YCC down to a score of 190, with former Trinity College cricketer Vathila Udara scoring a maiden fifty (52 off 78).

NCC and Tamil Union kept their hopes alive of qualifying for a place in the semi-finals with wins.

NCC beat Chilaw Marians CC by 46 runs at the NCC grounds. Kavin Bandara and Ramiru Perera made 40s in NCC’s total of 238. Former Devapathiraja Vidyalaya left-arm spinner Irushka Thimira returned his best figures (4/24) in this format for Chilaw Marians CC. Spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (3/53) and Sahan Arachchige (2/22) kept Chilaw Marians CC pegged down to a total of 192. Sakuna Liyanage (68 off 87) was the only batsman to resist.

Tamil Union’s spin trio of Theesan Vithushan (3/28), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (2/25), and Sachitha Jayatilake (2/22) spun their side to a 75-run win against Badureliya SC at the P. Sara Oval. Badureliya SC managed only 134 chasing Tamil Union’s total of 209, where Sharujan Shanmuganathan was the top scorer with 53. 

– [ST]