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Keshara Nuwantha single-handedly routed Moors SC with a match bag of 12/136
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Ace Capital CC, led by Roshan Jayatissa, pulled off a shocking 52-run win against Tamil Union at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday to top Group B and qualify for the Super Eight of the Major Club 3-Day League.
The loss, which was Tamil Union’s fourth in six matches, saw them fail to finish in the top four of the group and thereby play in the Plate competition. Tamil Union did well to gain a 106-run first innings lead, but failed to convert it into an outright victory when they were shot out for 122 in their second innings after being set a target of 175. It was the Ace Capital CC spinners who did the damage to the innings, with Wanuja Sahan taking 5/43 (match bag of 9/162), Jayatissa 3/50 (7/153), and Kavindu Amantha 2/18. Ace Capital CC closed their second innings at 280-8, with Amantha stroking 62 off 134 balls (8 fours, 1 six) and Raveen de Silva 50* off 90 balls (2 fours). Spinners Tharindu Rathnayake and Theeshan Vithushan took four wickets apiece.
Joining Ace Capital CC in the Super Eight from the group were Moors SC, NCC, and BRC.
In another shocking reversal, bottom-of-the-Group B-table Badureliya SC beat second-placed Moors SC by an innings and 46 runs at the Colts Grounds.
Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha took his maiden 10-wicket haul in a match as he single-handedly routed Moors SC for 268 and 172 in reply to Badureliya SC’s 486. Nuwantha took 5/65 in the first innings and followed it up with 7/71 in the second. Experienced campaigner Malinda Pushpakumara accounted for seven wickets in the match. Shehan Fernando top scored for Moors SC in the second innings with 65 (103 balls, 7 fours). The result didn’t affect Moors SC as they had done enough to finish within the top four.
Kasun Vidura’s century for Chilaw Marians CC denied Bloomfield a Super Eight spot
Off-spinner Murvin Abinash took a career best 7/112 to bowl BRC to a first innings win against NCC at Surrey Village grounds, Maggona and a place in the Super Eight. NCC resuming at 333-7 were all out for 356 in reply to BRC’s first innings of 396. In their second innings BRC lost half their side for 56 before Promod Maduwantha (111 off 163 balls, 16 fours) and Movin Subasingha (90 off 66 balls, 6 fours, 7 sixes) rescued them with a stand of 126 to see them to a final total of 300. NCC scored 16-3 in their second innings. Both NCC and BRC qualified for the Super Eight.
Group A leaders Police SC put up stubborn resistance batting for 110.2 overs for 295 before conceding a first innings loss to CCC at the NCC grounds. Replying to CCC’s tall score of 482-6 declared, Police SC recovered from their overnight score of 106-6 to add 189 for the last four wickets. Dilum Sudeera (81* off 165 balls, 14 fours) and Nipun Premaratne (38 off 113 balls, 6 fours) made career best scores as they put on a last wicket partnership of 97. CCC in their second innings scored 28 without loss.
Despite the loss Police SC retained top position and along with CCC, Colts and Panadura SC went through to the Super Eight.
Bloomfield’s defeat in the first innings at the hands of Chilaw Marians CC at the Galle Cricket Stadium saw the defending champions fail to qualify for the Super Eight. Kasun Vidura was the key component in Chilaw Marians CC’s total of 402 in reply to Bloomfield’s first innings of 312. He scored 110* off 228 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes) to take Chilaw Marians CC past Bloomfield’s total after they resumed at 272-5. Bloomfield made 165-3 in their second innings with Ron Chandraguptha scoring 59 off 65 balls (7 fours).
Colts ensured they finished in the top four from Group A with a first innings win against Panadura SC at the CCC grounds. With a first innings lead of 188 Colts batted a second time to pile up 402-5 declared. The base for their big total was laid by their openers Ravindu Rasantha (126 off 233 balls, 12 fours) and Sangeeth Cooray (69 off 136 balls, 9 fours) who put on 163. Later Dinesh Chandimal (47), Muditha Lakshan (51), Sanoj Darshika (51*) and Kavisha Anjula (42*) contributed towards the total. Panadura SC scored 61-0 in their second innings.
Wanuja Sahan, destroyer of the Tamil Union batting with 5/43
