Six centuries despite fickle weather conditions

SLC Under-23 Emerging Club 2-day tournament

Despite overcast and rainy conditions, batsmen held sway on the second and final day of the SLC Under-23 Emerging Club 2-day tournament yesterday with no less than six of them crossing the three-figure mark.

On top of the list was Bloomfield pair skipper Mineth Premaratne and Pulisha Thilakaratne who both hit centuries and put on an unbroken 243-run partnership for the second wicket that saw their club surpass Police SC’s first innings total of 211 with 300-1 declared off 50 overs and take first innings points at Police Park. Former Anandian Premaratne struck 15 fours in his 134* knock off 160 balls, while former Trinitian Thilakaratne took only 114 balls for his 107* that contained 12 fours. Police SC made 88-5 in their second innings.

Other clubs that won their drawn matches on first innings were Negombo CC, Ace Capital CC, Navy SC, and Nugegoda SWC, while Moratuwa SC took full points and two other games ended in a no-result between Tamil Union and Galle CC, and Colombo Malay CC and BRC.

A fine all-round performance by former Kandy Anthonian Amitha Sandeepa (85* off 140 balls, 11 fours, 2 sixes & 5/77) saw Negombo CC get the better of Colts at Colts grounds. Negombo CC scored 314-7 declared and 16-1 and dismissed Colts for 236 for whom opener Randunu Ganganath made a top score of 85 off 135 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes).

Ace Capital CC ran out of time to grab full points against Army SC at Panagoda. Ranesh Silva hit a brisk 52* off 30 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) to enable Ace Capital CC declare their first innings at 131-3. Army SC who were shot out for 68 in the first innings were in deep trouble at 50-7 when the match ended. Former Sri Lanka Under-19 all-rounder Wanuja Sahan added four more wickets (4/27) to the five he took in the first innings to end the match with figures of 9/46.

Former Kandana Mazenodian Ruveen Fonseka scored a century (110 off 243 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) and shared a century stand with Hansa Jayasingha (59 off 75 balls, 8 fours) as Navy SC hit an impressive 309-6 declared in their match against Moors SC at Moors grounds. The home team who made a disappointing 128 in the first innings, put up a better performance in the second to finish on 229-6 with Captain Omesh Mendis (77 off 76 balls, 6 fours, 6 sixes) and Vishara Fernando (69* off 54 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) scoring fifties apiece.

Former Cambrian Pasindu Pathum contributed a solid 107 off 189 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) for Nugegoda SWC who scored 290-9 declared and then went onto dismiss Badureliya CC for 192 (Janeth Kaushal 55) at Kirimandala. Pulindu Perera followed his knock of 88 with 4/34 of off-spin for Nugegoda SWC.

Galle CC found themselves rather unlucky as they fell short by 7 runs to take first innings points off Tamil Union at the Galle Cricket Stadium. Replying to Tamil Union’s total of 289, Galle finished on 283-8 with Chamath Dilsara (54 off 69 balls, 11 fours) and Hasitha Suranga (58* off 71 balls, 2 fours, 4 sixes) smacking fifties. Colombo Malay CC failed to take first innings points despite scoring 308-7 declared with Kevin Samuel contributing 128 off 235 balls (16 fours, 2 sixes) and sharing a 122-run stand with skipper Hirantha Jayasinghe (73 off 87 balls, 10 fours, 1 six). Off-spinner Niman Umesh took 4/43 in BRC’s reply of 112-5.

Only 12.3 overs were possible over the two days in the match between Ragama CC and Leo CC which ended in a no-decision at Salawa Army grounds, Kosgama. Ragama CC put into bat first scored 53-1.

Fast bowlers Lasen Gunaratne (5/32) and Dumindu Sewmina (6/28 off 8.5 overs) bowled Moratuwa SC to a 41-run win against Moratuwa rivals Sebastianites at Moratuwa Stadium. Sebastianites were bowled out twice for 131 and 206. For Moratuwa SC who made 177 and 201-3 declared, Abishek Liyanarachchi scored twin fifties in the match (73 off 117 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes) and (74* off 93 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and skipper Sahan Kawshalya contributed 84 off 99 balls (10 fours) out of a third wicket stand of 153 with Liyanarachchi in the second innings. Left-arm spinner Anuk Dewanayarana took 6/54 for Sebastianites. 

In the match that began at the CCC grounds yesterday, Kurunegala YCC winning the toss and batting first scored 273 with the Captain Rashmika Madusanka scoring 123 off 181 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes) and former Sri Lanka Under-19 Captain Dinura Kalupahana picking up four wickets for 49 runs. By stumps SSC had lost three wickets for 19 and trail by 254 runs in the first innings. – [ST]