SLC Under-23 inter-club 2-day tournament Moors SC grab full points, others share spoils

Lahiru Amarasakara excelled for Moors SC with a match bag of 10/74

Bloomfield spinner Tharinda Guruge captured 11 SSC wickets for 128

16-year-old Himal Ravihansa (7/69) spun United Southern SC to victory against BRC

Vihas Thewmika all-round excellence (65 and 8/37) for Tamil Union

Vathila Udara (8/30) bowled Kurunegala YCC to victory

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Moors SC pulled off a convincing seven-wicket win against NCC in their SLC Under-23 inter-club 2-day match concluded at Moors grounds yesterday.

Moors SC were the only team to take full points in the nine matches concluded yesterday. CCC and Kurunegala YCC failed by narrow margins to emulate Moors SC and had to be satisfied with first innings points. All the other matches ended in draws with team’s taking first innings points.

Off-spinner Lahiru Amerasakara was the architect of Moors SC’s win finishing with a match bag of 10/74 which included 7/38 in the first innings. NCC were bundled out for 175 and 111, Moors SC replied with 190 and 98-3. NCC’s left-arm spinner Shakithi Udara took 6/81 in Moors SC’s first innings. Oshan de Silva and Malsha Tharupathi made fifties for Moors SC in the first innings and skipper Omesh Mendis in the second.

Ragama CC held out to a draw depriving CCC of full points at Salawa Army ground, Kosgama. Ragama CC scored 122 and 87-8 in reply to CCC’s 193. CCC all-rounder Inuka Karannagoda took 5/24 with his left-arm spin in the second innings. Pawan Sandesh and Anjala Bandara struck fifties apiece for CCC.

Kurunegala YCC also suffered the same fate when Kandy Customs SC held to a draw at Army grounds, Dombagoda. Kandy Customs SC made 154 and 128-7 in reply to Kurunegala YCC’s first innings of 326-7 declared. The highlight of the match was the splendid bowling of former Trinity College spinners Vathila Udara who took 8/30 off 16.4 overs in the first innings and Dinuka Tennakoon 5/42 in the second, and Kurunegala YCC skipper Rashmika Madusanka’s unbeaten knock of 102 off 106 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes).

Bloomfield also had to be content with first innings points despite running up an impressive total of 419-6 declared against SSC at SSC grounds. SSC who made 223 in the first innings held out in the second at 117-6. Centuries from Asitha Wanninayake (109 off 188 balls, 12 fours, 1 six) and Tharindu Harshana (114* off 188 balls, 13 fours) and a marvellous spell of bowling by former Richmondite off-spinner Tharinda Guruge match bag of 11/128 for Bloomfield were the features of the match.

Captain Akram Muthalib top scored with 83 (78 balls, 6 fours, 4 sixes) for Nugegoda SWC in their first innings win against Ace Capital CC at Thurstan Road. Nugegoda SWC scored 315-8 replying to Ace Capital CC’s first innings of 282 for whom former Sri Lanka Under-19 all-rounder Wanuja Sahan scored an undefeated 119 in 122 balls (14 fours, 2 sixes) and left-arm spinner Nirmala Rathnayake took 5/76.

Wicket-keeper/bat Pulasthi Athapaththu guided Colombo Malay CC to a first innings win against Badureliya CC at Katunayake with a 246-ball century (101 with 14 fours). Colombo Malay CC scored 275-9 replying to Badureliya CC’s first innings of 229 for whom Sandun Mendis top scored with 83 and left-arm spinner Kaveesh Sathsara took 7/77 for Colombo Malay CC.

Hiruna Gallage played a captain’s innings of 108 off 166 balls (8 fours, 5 sixes) to carry Colts over the line against Panadura SC at Panadura esplanade. Replying to Panadura SC’s first innings of 233 (Sasindu Malshan 91, Tharana Wimaladarma 5/60), Colts were not too happily placed at 211-7, but Gallage saw them home being the last man out. Panadura SC scored 83-0 in their second innings.

Chilaw Marians CC pulled off a comfortable first innings win against Sebastianites at Colts grounds. In reply to Chilaw Marians CC score of 300 (Tharindu Amarasinghe 98), Sebastianites were dismissed for 203 (Melan Hansaka 4/45). Chilaw Marians CC scored 180-3 in their second innings with fifties from Dilana Damsara and Sakuna Liyanage.

Tamil Union’s first innings win against Police SC at P Sara Oval was highlighted by two former Sri Lanka U19 cricketers Sharujan Shanmuganathan’s century – 121 off 194 balls (9 fours) and Vihas Thewmika’s all-round contribution of 65 and 8/37 with his off-breaks. Tamil Union scored 351 and 125-9 and Police SC 174. 

United Southern SC pulled off a thrilling 16-run first innings win against BRC at Saliyapura Army grounds. United Southern SC scored 241 and dismissed BRC for 225 with 17-year-old Wennappuwa St. Joseph Vas schoolboy leg-spinner Himal Ravihansa doing the main damage with 7/69. United Southern SC made 163-6 in their second innings.