NCC, CCC opt for batting bonus points

SLC Major Club 3-Day Tournament

Monday, 24 February 2025 01:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kavika Dilshan returned career best bowling figures for Kurunegala YCC

Lasith Croospulle delivered a career best 163 for CCC

BRC’s Malinda Pushpakumara took his 85th five-wicket innings haul

NCC and CCC played out a draw, opting to go for batting bonus points rather than force a follow-on in their respective matches of the SLC Major Club 3-Day Tournament concluded yesterday.

NCC, who have already qualified to play in the four-day final by topping Group B, took a massive first innings lead of 322 after dismissing Kurunegala YCC at the Welagedara Stadium for 182 in reply to their total of 504. However, NCC opted to bat a second time and scored 285 with half-centuries from Kamil Mishara (53 off 79 balls, 3 fours, 1 six), Kavin Bandara, who followed his first innings’ 73 with another judicious knock of 83 off 88 balls (7 fours, 1 six), and Ashian Daniel (50 off 76 balls, 4 fours, 1 six). Left-arm spinner Kavika Dilshan helped himself to career best innings and match figures of 6/103 and 10/211. In the remaining time left, Kurunegala YCC made 64-1.

CCC, who took a first innings lead of 229 by dismissing BRC for 249 at the CCC grounds, batted a second time to pile up 356-8 declared before the match ended. It enabled opener Lasith Croospulle to set the ground alight, making a career best score of 163 off 102 balls spiced with 14 fours and 10 sixes. With Pavan Rathnayake (70 off 75 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes), Croospulle added 181 for the third wicket. Malinda Pushpakumara, the veteran left-arm spinner, took his 85th five-fer innings haul (5/83) to move to within 20 wickets of reaching 1,000 first-class wickets.

With Moors SC beating Kandy Customs CC by an innings inside two days and finishing second in Group B to NCC, CCC had to be content with third place.

With the conclusion of yesterday’s matches, Group B clubs conclude their fixtures. – [ST]