Mixed fortunes for last year’s finalists Ace Capital CC and CCC

Opening day of SLC Major Clubs 50-over tournament

Monday, 30 June 2025 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth bowled Tamil Union to victory over defending champions Ace Capital CC

Malsha Tharupathi took 4/23 in Moors SC’s win against Bloomfield

Colts with recently retired Test cricketer Angelo Mathews in their side were beaten by 7 wickets by last year’s runner-up CCC in their opening match of the Major Clubs Limited-Over tournament played at the Colts grounds on Friday.

Mathews was dismissed for 8 after Colts invited to bat first were bundled out for 103. Only Sangeeth Cooray got into double figures scoring 51 off 81 balls (3 fours, 1 six). Former Sri Lanka U19 fast bowler Duvindu Ranatunga picked up figures of 4/20. Wellington-born Devan Vishvaka making his debut for CCC hit a splendid half-century (51 off 38 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) and figured in a 66-run stand with Pawan Sandesh (39* off 38 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) to see the team home with plenty to spare.

Defending champions Ace Capital CC suffered a three-wicket defeat at the hands of Tamil Union at the P Sara Oval. They were restricted to a score of 193-8 (Nimesha Gunasinghe 43 off 54) by leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth who took 3/45. In Tamil Union’s run chase, Sithara Hapuhinna scored 60 off 59 balls (7 fours), Sharujan Shanmuganathan (40 off 79) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (41* off 21 with 3 fours, 3 sixes).

Semi-finalists of last year Moors SC defeated Bloomfield by 54 runs at Moors grounds despite a captain’s knock of 84 off 112 balls (2 fours, 5 sixes) from Nipun Karunanayake for Bloomfield. Former Sri Lanka U19 leg-spinner Malsha Tharupathi terminated the Bloomfield innings for 197 with figures of 4/23. Batting first Moors SC scored 251-9 with skipper Ramesh Mendis making a top score of 49.

All-rounder Nadeera Jayasuriya took 4/26 with his off-breaks to give Police SC a creditable 8-wicket win against an NCC side with six national players at the Police grounds. Skipper Sahan Arachchige scored 43 (74 balls, 2 fours) out of NCC’s total of 143 in 37.2 overs. Police SC powered by opener Dhanuja Induwara’s unbeaten knock of 61 off 88 balls (4 fours, 1 six) and his partnership of 81 with Chaturanga Jayathilake (38 of 54) and an unbeaten 30 from Vishad Randika reached their target in 24 overs.

In the other matches completed, Chilaw Marians CC (216) defeated Badureliya SC (198 – Dilshan de Soysa 68) by 18 runs at the NCC grounds, and Nugegoda SWC (233-9) beat BRC (210 – Movin Subasingha 59) by 23 runs at the BRC grounds. – (ST)