SSC look to clinch Tier B 3-Day League title

Friday, 30 January 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Skipper Avishka Fernando and Nipun Dananjaya, leading lights of the SSC batting

Hold a 40-plus point lead over their nearest rivals

If nothing untoward happens in the remaining three weekends, SSC are primed to win the Tier B three-day League title and get back to where they belong – the Major Club three-day league next season.

SSC hold a commanding 40-plus points lead over their nearest rivals, Negombo CC and Leo CC, and look invincible. After being rather shockingly demoted to play in Tier B, SSC have steeled themselves to make amends for that lapse with a forceful drive towards winning the Tier B three-day league title this season. Their determination has been so compelling that, after eight weekends of matches, they remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.

SSC, led by national cricketer Avishka Fernando, have simply swept every opposition off their feet and look unstoppable. In their last two games against Army SC and United Southern SC, they faltered in the first innings, conceding a lead, but came back strongly in the second innings to convert them into outright victories.

Leading SSC’s charge towards the title is Sri Lanka’s premier Test spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 65 wickets (avg. 14.03) from eight matches, which is 16 wickets more than his nearest rival, Mangala Pradeep, a bowler of the same type from Leo CC. These two leading wicket-takers will clash when SSC meet Leo CC at the Air Force Grounds, Katunayake, in one of the six matches commencing today.

Negombo CC somewhat lost ground when they were held to a tie by Army SC last weekend and had to share the points. A win would have helped them reduce the points deficit against SSC. Negombo CC meet Kandy Customs SC at the Army Grounds, Dombagoda, and will try their utmost to take maximum points from the match.

For Colombo Malay CC, their game against Sebastianites at the Samadhi Grounds, Anuradhapura, is of utmost importance. Following back-to-back outright losses to Kandy Customs SC and Leo CC, Malay CC find themselves at the bottom of the table and in danger of being demoted to play in the Governor’s Cup. With only three more weekends of matches, time is running out for teams in the bottom half of the table to avoid relegation to a lower division.

Navy SC, another team fighting against demotion, have a tough game against United Southern SC at Welisara. United Southern SC did well to bowl table leaders SSC out for 183 and grab a first-innings lead, although they eventually lost the match outright.

Similarly, Ragama CC, although winners of their last two matches, will need to extend that run to feel safe from relegation. They meet Galle CC at the Moors SC Grounds. Moratuwa SC and Army SC will battle it out at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. – [ST]