SSC begin Tier B 3-Day tournament in style with innings win

SSC began their campaign to win the Tier B 3-Day tournament and gain promotion to the Major 3-Day League in style when they thrashed Kandy Customs SC by an innings and 11 runs at the Army grounds, Dombagoda, yesterday.

SSC were the only team to grab full points on a weekend marred by bad light and rain. United Southern SC, Sebastianites, and Moratuwa SC all won in the first innings.

SSC added a further 51 runs to their overnight score of 253-3 and declared at 304-5, gaining a first innings lead of 149. Kandy Customs SC, who made 155 in their first innings, were bundled out for 138 by spinners Prabath Jayasuriya (3/43), Nipun Dananjaya (2/21), and Milinda Siriwardena (2/7). Kandy Customs SC were given a solid start by their openers, skipper Malindu Maduranga (21) and Ashan Randika (46), who put on 69 before the rest of the batting lost their way.

United Southern SC had to be content with a first innings win against Colombo Malay CC at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa. Malay CC were dismissed for 177 after resuming at 79-3 in reply to United Southern SC’s first innings of 299. The seam of Tharush Damindu (4/37) and spin of Kavindu Ediriweera (3/30) and Dhanosh de Silva (3/14) accounted for the Malay CC wickets. United Southern SC used the remaining time to gain some batting bonus points, racing to 205-1 off 40 overs. Opener Adeesha Nanayakkara set the pace with a 126-ball 130 (16 fours, 3 sixes), sharing a first wicket stand of 192 with Adithya Siriwardhana (51* off 116 balls, 4 fours).

Leo CC put up staunch resistance to deny Sebastianites full points at the Salawa Army ground, Kosgama. Replying to Sebastianites’ first innings of 345-6 declared, Leo CC, powered by a century from opener Ashan Fernando (104 off 124 balls, 18 fours), replied with 270. Fernando was involved in two fruitful partnerships of 88 for the first wicket with Hirun Sigera (19), and 63 for the second with Ashen Mendis (77 off 148 balls, 5 fours). Spinners Miranga Wickramage, Hashan Sandeepa, and Tharusha Fernando took three wickets apiece. At stumps, Sebastianites were 37-3 in their second innings.

In a high-scoring game at the Samadhi Ground, Anuradhapura, Moratuwa SC took first innings points from Galle CC. Replying to Galle CC’s first innings of 271, Moratuwa SC, resuming at 288-4, reached 432-7 declared, with wicket-keeper Gavin Boteju missing out on a century by one run, getting run out (99 off 150 balls, 10 fours, 1 six), and Dinitha Siriwardena becoming the fourth batsman to score a fifty in the innings (71* off 111 balls, 9 fours, 1 six). Trailing by 161, Galle CC scored 233-4 in their second innings, mainly due to an opening stand of 125 by Ramesh Nimantha (93 off 130 balls, 11 fours) and Chamath Dilsara (63 off 82 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes).

On the second day of their match played at BRC grounds, Ragama CC gained a vital first innings lead against Negombo CC. Negombo CC were bundled out for 188, with spinners Upul Indrasiri and Koshan Jayawickrama sharing six wickets. By the close, Ragama CC had replied with 244-8. Ranmith Jayasena was unbeaten on 84 (150 balls, 8 fours, 3 sixes) and, with Vikum Sanjaya (50 off 27 balls, 2 fours, 5 sixes), shared an eighth wicket stand of 69 to help Ragama CC recover from 155-7. Seamer Hansaja Hiruna had figures of 4/72.

Army SC also gained a first innings lead over Navy SC at Welisara. Replying to Army SC’s first innings of 344, Navy SC managed only 267, with spinners Malka Madusanka (4/69) and Shehada Zoysa (3/31) being the main wicket-takers. By the close on the second day, Army SC scored 27-2 to lead by 104 runs. 

The two matches will continue today.