Moors SC consolidate Group A top spot with third straight win

 Nipun Dananjaya and Nuwanidu Fernando scored centuries apiece and put on a double century stand for SSC

 By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Moors SC and BRC from Group B were the only teams to record outright wins in the SLC Major League inter-club matches which ended yesterday with most of them being affected by bad weather.  

Moors SC consolidated their position at the top of Group A with their third win in successive weekends beating Kandy Customs CC by an innings and 108 runs at Thurstan grounds. Kandy Customs CC trailing Moors SC in the first innings by 261 runs were once again done in by left-arm spinner Theesan Vithusan who followed his five wickets in the first innings with another five-wicket haul in the second for maiden match figures of 10 for 79. Kandy Customs were all out for 153.   

BRC completed a facile six wickets win over Galle CC at the BRC grounds to keep pace with Moors SC. BRC requiring 73 to win were 35-3 overnight and completed the formality of scoring the remaining runs with skipper Tillakaratne Sampath contributing 47 of them despite left-arm spinner Sandun Madushanka grabbing three wickets for 41 runs. Dushan Hemantha, the BRC leg-spinner took a match bag of 11 wickets for 119.

Bottom of the Group B table Nugegoda SWC dented Army SC’s record by taking first innings points in their drawn match at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. Army compensated for their dismal batting performance in the first innings when they made only 150, by scoring 257-4 in the second innings with skipper Lakshan Edirisinghe scoring a career best 134 off 223 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes). Nugegoda SWC made 263.

Colts took first innings points from Sebastianites at Moors grounds by dismissing their opponents for 240 in reply to their first innings of 274. By the close Colts had made 167-7 with Sebastianites’ ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake taking four wickets to end the match with figures of 11 for 181.

Group B leaders Tamil Union got the better of exchanges against Ace Capital CC at the P Sara Oval taking first innings points in their drawn match. In reply to Ace Capital CC’s first innings of 151, Tamil Union scored 290. Ace Capital CC made 216-7 in their second innings.

Chilaw Marians CC came up with a fine all-round bowling performance to take first innings points off Navy SC in their drawn match played at R Premadasa Stadium. Strongly placed at 157-3 overnight Navy SC collapsed for 266 in reply to Chilaw Marians CC’s first innings of 353 with spinners Irushka Thimira, 18-year-old from Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Rathgama and Keshara Nuwantha doing the main damage with five wickets between them. Bad light prevented Ragama CC from beating Kurunegala YCC outright at the Welagedara Stadium. Ragama CC had to be content with first innings points after making Kurunegala YCC follow-on 170 runs in arrears and capturing seven second innings wickets for 115 runs. Ragama CC left-arm spinner Shashika Dilshan had a good game taking six wickets.

Bad light also deprived Bloomfield from overhauling Negombo CC’s first innings total of 228 in the drawn match played at BOI, Katunayake. When play ended Bloomfield were 30 runs shy of grabbing first innings points having replied with 199-5 with captain Madawa Warnapura unbeaten on 32.

In the matches which began yesterday SSC batted themselves into a strong position scoring 319-6 against Police SC at SSC grounds. Nipun Dananjaya and Nuwanidu Fernando completed fine centuries sharing a second wicket stand of 233. Dananjaya made 117 off 141 balls (12 fours) and Fernando 114 off 157 balls (18 fours, 2 sixes).  

Left-arm spinner Chalana de Silva took five for 49 to bundle NCC out for 152 at NCC grounds. By the close Badureliya SC had replied with 70-2 to trail by 82 runs.

Former Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara ran through Lankan CC batting taking eight for 27 to put out Lankan CC for a paltry 67 at the CCC grounds. By stumps CCC had already taken a first innings lead of 87 replying with 154-5. Captain Kamindu Mendis was unbeaten on 63 scored off 95 balls (6 fours, 1 six).

Saracens SC were 70 without loss after being invited to bat first by Panadura SC at Maggona. Bad light and rain interrupted all four matches which will be continued today.