Police SC first team to qualify for semi-finals

Nishan Madushka made the tournament’s highest individual score – 174 for CCC

 Ahan Wickramasinghe hit a career-best 114 for NCC

• SLC Major Clubs 50-Over Tournament

Senitha Halambage’s all-round performance (4/32 and 44*) helped Panadura SC win

Police SC, the only unbeaten team in the tournament, became the first to qualify for a place in the semi-finals of the SLC Major Clubs 50-Over Tournament when they beat defending champions Ace Capital CC by six wickets at the Police Grounds yesterday.

The win was Police SC’s fifth in a row and placed them well on top of Group A with 10 points and a match in hand. Led by national cap Ashen Bandara, Police SC chased down a target of 212 to win with 29 balls to spare. Ace Capital CC recovered from losing half their side for 48 to post a decent score of 211-6 thanks to a 134-run stand for the sixth wicket by Himasha Liyanage (73 off 104 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Raveen de Silva (74* off 113 balls, 4 fours). But it proved insufficient to stop Police SC from surpassing it in the 46th over. Opener Dhanuja Induwara made 73 (102 balls, 5 fours) and there were useful contributions from the middle order to see Police SC home. 

NCC completed their Group A fixtures with a 106-run win against Badureliya CC at the NCC grounds to finish second to Police SC with 8 points. However, they will have to await the result of the Tamil Union vs Police SC game to know their fate of a semi-final place. Tamil Union have 6 points and, with a better net run rate, may pip NCC for the second spot if they win. Ahan Wickramasinghe hit a career-best 114 off 90 balls (14 fours, 2 sixes) and Chamika Karunaratne (95* off 46 balls, 7 fours, 8 sixes) for NCC to run up the second highest total – 328-9. Badureliya CC only managed 222 despite Seekkuge Prasanna’s maiden One Day century (112 off 75 balls, 5 fours, 10 sixes). 

Moors SC, led by Ramesh Mendis, put themselves in line for a semi-final spot when they won their final group match against BRC by three wickets at the BRC grounds. In a low-scoring game, BRC were bundled out for 126 by the seam and spin of Hivin Kenula (3/18) and Mendis (4/31). Moors SC also struggled to get their innings going and lost seven wickets against the spin of Shashika Dulshan (4/41) and Movin Subasingha (3/13) before getting over the line. BRC’s top order bat Gajith Kotuwegoda was the only batsman to cross fifty – 63 off 95 balls (8 fours).

Moors SC, with five wins from six matches, occupy the top position in Group B with 10 points. Colts (8 points), who did not have a game today, and CCC (8 points) are the other two teams vying for the top two positions in the Group. Both teams have a game in hand.

CCC improved their net run rate immensely, which could play a big part in deciding the two semi-finalists from Group B, by amassing the highest total of the ongoing tournament – 340-7 in their 134-run win against Bloomfield at the CCC grounds. Sri Lanka One Day opener Nishan Madushka, who had a poor outing against Bangladesh in the ODI series, hit an imposing 174 off 145 balls that included 14 fours and 6 sixes to lay the foundation for CCC’s massive total. During his career-best knock, Madushka figured in two century partnerships – 105 for the second wicket with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (59 off 53 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and 100 for the fifth with Pawan Sandesh (44). Lahiru Madushanka was the pick of the Bloomfield bowlers with 4/59. Bloomfield were dismissed for 206, with seamers Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando and Chamindu Wijesinghe taking six wickets between them. Mineth Premaratne and skipper Nipun Karunanayake made 51 apiece for Bloomfield. 

Panadura SC secured only their second win when they defeated Chilaw Marians CC by seven wickets at the Panadura esplanade. Senitha Halambage, the former Dharmasoka Ambalangoda cricketer, was Panadura SC’s match winner, capturing 4/32 with his off-breaks to dismiss Chilaw Marians CC for 172 and scoring an unbeaten 44 off 47 balls (5 fours, 1 six) in their successful run chase.

Kurunegala YCC recorded their first win of the tournament after four losses with a 42-run win over Nugegoda SWC at their home venue at the Welagedara Stadium. Kurunegala YCC scored 173 courtesy a half century (53 off 77 balls, 6 fours) from Gayana Weerasinghe and dismissed Nugegoda SWC for 131, with Kevin Perera making a top score of 49 and spinners Dinuka Tennekoon and Vathila Udara sharing six wickets. – [ST]