Moors SC opening pair Dinuka Dilshan (left) and Pabasara Waduge during their stand of 126

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Dushan Hemantha of BRC took seven wickets to dismiss Galle CC for 178

Theesan Vithusan’s maiden fivefer has placed Moors SC strongly against Kandy Customs CC

Sebastianites’ spinner Tharindu Ratnayake’s seven wickets restricted Colts to 274

Theesan Vithusan, the left-arm spinner from Jaffna Central, took his maiden five-fer in an innings in only his third first-class match to put SLC Major League Inter-Club Group A table leaders Moors SC in a strong position to force an outright win over Kandy Customs CC at Thurstan College grounds.

By stumps on the first day yesterday, Moors SC having dismissed Kandy Customs CC for 116, had taken first innings points by replying powerfully with 142-1. After Vithusan (5/44) and his co-spinner Chanuka Dilshan (3/46) had run through the Kandy Customs batting, Moors SC erased that total through their openers Dinuka Dilshan and Pabasara Waduge who posted a stand of 126. Both batsmen struck fifties, Waduge 59 off 115 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes) and Dilshan 72* off 140 balls (8 fours).  

Spinners Aravinda Premaratne and Sahan Nanayakkara came up with a fine all-round bowling performance for Nugegoda SWC, sharing six wickets between them to dismiss Army SC for 150 at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. By the close Nugegoda SWC had replied with 61-3, to trail by 89 runs.

Group B table leaders Tamil Union took a firm grip of their match against Ace Capital CC at P Sara Oval by dismissing their opponents for 151 and then finishing the day on 94-3, 57 runs away from gaining a first innings lead. Tamil Union’s pace cum spin combination accounted for the Ace Capital CC wickets with Kavindu Pathiratne and Dilruwan Perera taking three wickets apiece.

Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha took his second five-fer in an innings in a 35-match first-class career – 7 for 65 off 19.2 overs to bowl out Galle CC for 178. By stumps BRC had replied with 114-3, to trail by 64 runs. Hemantha showed his prowess as an all-rounder by scoring an unbeaten 31 in an unfinished 58 runs stand with Lahiru Samarakoon (30*) after BRC had lost their first three wickets for 56.

Colts’ wicket-keeper/batsman Vishad Randika missed out on scoring his fifth first-class century when he ran out of partners in their match against Sebastianites at Moors SC grounds. Randika was stranded on 92* scored off 163 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes) as Colts choosing to bat first were all out for 274. Randika’s knock helped Colts recover from 176-7 against the threat posed by Sebastianites’ ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake who ended up taking seven wickets for 116. By the close Sebastianites were struggling at 49-3.

Kasun Vidura, Gaurav Jathar and skipper Pulina Tharanga hit fifties apiece to help Chilaw Marians to a first day total of 276-6 against Navy SC at the R Premadasa Stadium. Vidura made 61 off 108 balls (5 fours), Mumbai’s Jathar 52 off 79 balls (6 fours) and Tharanga 65* off 117 balls (10 fours).

Following a late start due to rain and wet ground conditions Ragama CC winning the toss and batting first were 38-2 against Kurunegala YCC at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala. There was no play on the opening day of the match between Bloomfield and Negombo CC at BOI grounds, Katunayake due to wet ground conditions.     

 The following matches that were scheduled to begin yesterday were postponed by a day to commence today due to bad weather conditions – Saracens SC v Panadura SC at Maggona, NCC v Badureliya SC at NCC, SSC v Police SC at SSC, and CCC v Lankan CC at CCC.

Dilshan to lead Lanka legends in Road Safety World Series