Lankan white ball cricketers excel on opening day

Sri Lanka spinner Lakshan Sandakan took three Lankan CC wickets in CCC’s five-wicket win

Sri Lankan white ball cricketers warmed up for the upcoming T20I series against Australia with some pleasing performances on the opening day of the SLC Major Clubs T20 tournament yesterday.

National white ball skipper Dasun Shanaka led defending champs SSC to a comfortable 52 runs win over Badureliya SC taking three middle order wickets for six runs as the opponents collapsed for 94 chasing a target of 147. 

Former Dharmasoka Ambalangoda leg-spinner Kavindu Nadeeshan was the chief wrecker capturing four wickets for 18 runs assisted by the off-breaks of Lakshitha Rasanjana who celebrated his inclusion in the provisional Test squad with two wickets for two runs.

In SSC’s total of 146-6, Shevon Daniel top scored with a sprightly knock of 59 off 38 balls inclusive of five sixes and national T20 opener Danushka Gunathilaka made an unobtrusive 44 off 49 balls. Last year’s losing finalist Army SC also won their opening match quite comfortably beating Navy SC by eight wickets. 

After former Sri Lanka player Asela Gunaratne had restricted Navy SC’s batting with three wickets for 33, opener Ashan Randika’s 41-ball innings of 65* that included five sixes saw Army home in a canter.

Saracens SC beat Air Force SC by five wickets with a ball to spare. The scores were tied at 128 with two balls remaining but Akash Senaratne made sure that Promod Maduwantha’s fighting knock of 38* off 39 balls didn’t go waste by getting off the mark with a boundary to seal victory for Saracens. Maduwantha and Thaveesha Kahaduwaarachchi (45 off 42 balls) added 65 for the second wicket.

Right-arm medium-fast bowler Thilan Prashan playing only his second T20 match in three years (his first was for SSC in 2019) took a career best 5 for 15 to bowl Moors SC to an easy 67 runs win over Galle CC.

Moors SC rattled off the highest total of the day 179-6 on the back of former Sri Lanka cricketer Kithuruwan Vithanage half-century (52 off 40 balls) and his second wicket partnership of 68 with Dinuka Dilshan (34) and then dismissed Galle CC for 112.

Kurunegala YCC pulled off an upset win over Bloomfield, while CCC beat Lankan CC with Sri Lanka spinner Lakshan Sandakan marking his inclusion into the Sri Lanka provisional T20 squad with three wickets for nine runs as Lankan CC were put out for the lowest total of the day 86. (ST)

 Former Sri Lanka batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage celebrates his half-century for Moor SC against Galle CC

Thaveesha Kahaduwaarachchi (left) and Promod Maduwantha steered Saracens SC to a five-wicket win over Air Force SC