Police SC have one foot in Super Eight

Friday, 9 January 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Group matches reach penultimate weekend

Group A table leaders Police SC virtually assured of a place in the Super Eight will get another opportunity to consolidate their position at the top when they take on Bloomfield at the P. Sara Oval in one of the six matches commencing today in the SLC Major Club 3-day League.

Defending champions Bloomfield are not having a good season and are struggling to avoid playing in the Plate competition if they fail to finish in the top four. Bloomfield lie second from the bottom of Group A and will have a tough task trying to stop a confident Police SC unit captained by Ashen Bandara from winning. Bandara has led the Police SC team from the front being the leading run-getter in the competition with 440 runs at an average of 73.33, which includes the only double century scored so far.

With the group matches reaching its penultimate weekend, the tussle to finish within the top four from each of the two groups intensifies as the clubs try to qualify for the Super Eight.

18 points behind Police SC in second place is CCC who will look to carry their momentum from beating Chilaw Marians CC by nine wickets into the game against Panadura SC at the Galle Cricket Stadium. Panadura SC pulled off a creditable win against Bloomfield last weekend winning by 58 runs.

Nugegoda SWC and Colts, both looking to end in the top four from Group A, meet at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala. Nugegoda SWC finished second best to Police SC last weekend and will want to shake off that first innings defeat against Colts who resume the battle after a free weekend.

For Kurunegala YCC who are on the borderline in fourth place, their match against Moors SC at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Sooriyawewa will be of great importance. It will be Kurunegala YCC’s final group match and a win will keep their hopes of qualifying for the Super Eight alive. Second placed Moors SC on the other hand are no easy beats and will want to ensure their passage into the next round is secure with a win.

Tamil Union, second from the bottom and facing the prospect of having to play in the Plate, have a tough task against table toppers NCC whom they meet at the Colts grounds. Forced to follow-on in their match against Kurunegala YCC, Tamil Union came up with their best batting performance in the second innings to avoid an innings defeat. They will need to give a repeat performance if they are to prevent a confident NCC unit from winning.

Ace Capital CC lying third get an opportunity to improve their position further when they meet bottom of the table Badureliya SC at the CCC grounds. Having beaten BRC by six wickets last weekend, Ace Capital CC should feel confident of grabbing full points against Badureliya SC who’s solitary win was also against BRC. BRC who have a free weekend are not too happily placed in fifth position with NCC as their final opponents in the group. – [ST]