SLC Major Clubs Women’s Limited-Over tournament Harshitha 91 keeps Navy SC on top

Saturday, 16 August 2025 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Harshitha Samarawickrama kept Navy SC on top with sterling knock of 91

Vishmi Gunaratne top scored for CCC with exciting 77 but yet finished on losing side

Sewmini Sasikala took four wickets for Badureliya CC including that of Vishmi Gunaratne

By Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Table toppers Navy SC maintained their unbeaten run in the ongoing SLC Major Clubs Women’s Limited-Over tournament when they inflicted on Chilaw Marians CC their first defeat beating them by 91 runs in a top of the table clash at Welisara yesterday. It was Navy SC’s eighth win in as many matches.

It was a contest between two of the best batters of Sri Lanka, skipper Chamari Athapaththu, the captain of Chilaw Marians CC and Harshitha Samarawickrama of Navy SC. It was Harshitha who came out on top with a sterling knock of 91 off 111 balls (7 fours) that enabled Navy SC to post a challenging score of 219-5. Harshitha starred in a 97-run partnership off 92 balls with her Captain Hansima Karunaratne who went onto score a run-a-ball 48 with five fours. If Chilaw Marians CC was to surpass Navy SC’s total a lot depended on the experienced campaigner Chamari. But she was dismissed for 24 trapped lbw by Inoka Ranaweera. Following her dismissal Chilaw Marians CC hardly offered much resistance and were bowled out for 128 in 38.4 overs. Inoka with figures of 3/20 was supported by her other Sri Lankan team mates Udeshika Prabodhani (2/35) and Sathya Sandeepani (2/26).

Air Force SC retained third position in the standings with a 31-run win against Army SC at Army grounds, Dombagoda. In a low scoring match Air Force SC managed only 148-8 off 50 overs with the majority of the runs coming off the bat of national cricketer Malsha Shehani (51* off 49 balls, 2 fours, 1 six). Army SC was dismissed for 117 in 41.2 overs where national player Nilakshika Silva contributed the most - 60 off 70 balls (7 fours). Left-arm spinner Tharuka Shehani took 3/29.

Fourth placed Panadura SC kept in pursuit of the top three teams with a six-wicket victory against Colts at the Panadura esplanade. A combined bowling performance from seamer Chethana Vimukthi (2/12) and off-spinners Rismi Sanjana (2/18) and Yasanthi Herath (2/9) saw Colts bundled out for 100 in 39.4 overs. Panadura SC had no difficulty in chasing down the runs in 27.5 overs.

Badureliya CC pulled off an exciting one-wicket win against CCC at Surrey Village grounds, Maggona. Rashmi Nethranjali kept Badureliya CC hopes alive with an inspiring knock of 41 off 67 balls (5 fours). When she was eighth out at 144, Badureliya CC still required 21 runs to overhaul CCC’s total of 164. Hirunika Niwarathani kept a cool head and scored an invaluable 13* off 26 balls to see Badureliya CC home with 29 balls to spare. Sri Lanka cricketer Vishmi Gunaratne, the CCC skipper struck a 100-ball 77 (9 fours, 1 six) and shared an opening partnership of 76 with Yashodha Senarathne (28). But from 101-1 CCC lost their remaining nine wickets for 63 runs mainly to the right-arm seam of Sewmini Sasikala (4/32) and the off-breaks of Vihara Sewwandi (3/12).

SSC’s off-spinner Lakshi Abhimani took 4/17 to put out Ace Capital CC for 72 in 41.1 overs. SSC knocked the runs off losing half the side to win by 5 wickets at Kirimandala.