SLC Under-23 Inter-Club 2-day tournament Colombo Malay CC, Leo CC hold out to deny full points

Saturday, 23 August 2025 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Janith Mihirange, Leo CC's saviour with a fighting half-century

Inuka Karannagoda had a match bag of 8 wickets for CCC

By Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Colombo Malay CC and Leo CC forced to follow-on put up staunch resistance in their second innings to deny their opponents full points. Eventually, Ace Capital CC and CCC had to be content with first innings points.

Colombo Malay CC had to thank their last wicket pair Savindu Uthsara (20* off 52 balls, 4 fours) and Sineth Dissanayake (19* off 39 balls, 4 fours) for helping them draw their game against Ace Capital CC at Air Force grounds, Katunayake. Terminated for 125 in their first innings in reply to Ace Capital CC’s total of 378-8 declared, Colombo Malay CC forced to follow-on 253 runs in arrears were in danger of losing by an innings when their ninth wicket fell at 206. But the last pair put up a gutty performance to bat out 12 overs and draw the match adding 41* off 72 balls. Wanuja Sahan match bag of 7 wickets, Raveen de Silva (6) and Thisara Ekanayake (4) bowled best for Ace Capital CC.

CCC also suffered a similar fate as Ace Capital CC at Salawa Army grounds, Kosgama, when Leo CC dismissed for 174 in their first innings in reply to CCC’s 327 held out to finish on 153-7 in the second having followed on. After losing half the side for 41, Janith Mihirange, the former Kelaniya Gurukula College southpaw took matters into his own hands (56 off 113 balls, 9 fours) and forged two crucial partnerships of 67 and 45 with Steewan Fernando (37) and Oshada Gimhan (18*) respectively to draw the contest and deny CCC an outright win. Left-arm spinner Inuka Karannagoda had a match bag of 8 wickets including 5/72 in the second innings for CCC.

In the match that began yesterday at the NCC grounds, the home team batting first scored 263 courtesy fifties from skipper Jeewaka Sashin (60 off 90 balls, 5 fours) and Uvin Perera (58 off 55 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes). By stumps, Navy SC had replied with 84-4 of which 47* off 57 balls (7 fours) had come off the bat of Uvindu Perera. The match will continue today.