Friday Sep 18, 2026
Friday Sep 18, 2026
Friday, 3 July 2026 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Tamil Union and Bloomfield secured outright wins in their respective matches of the Under23 Inter-Club tournament concluded yesterday.
Tamil Union thrashed United Southern SC by an innings and 10 runs at Surrey grounds, Maggona with former Sri Lanka Under19 all-rounder Vihas Thewmika running through their batting twice with his off-breaks to finish with a match bag of 12/107. After Tamil Union had declared their first innings at 330-5, a lead of 177, United Southern SC collapsed a second time to be all out for 167. Thewmika assisted by the left-arm leg-spin of Himaru Deshan shared eight wickets between them. Three half-century stands featured the Tamil Union innings – 97 between Tehan Bitar (78 off 168 balls, 6 fours) and Sineth Jayawardena (59), 99 between Bitar and Sachira Weliwatta (73 off 96 balls, 4 fours, 1 six), and 87 between Sarujan Shanmuganathan (52* off 40 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and Thewmika (53 off 33 balls, 2 fours, 4 sixes).
Left-arm spinner Kaveesha Piyumal took a match bag of 9/79 to bowl Bloomfield to a comprehensive 10-wicket win against Ragama CC at Salawa Army grounds, Kosgama. Pathum Rathnayake made a top score of 60* off 75 balls (4 fours) to enable Bloomfield gain a first innings lead of 62 when they were all out for 184. Left-arm spinner Kevin Nanayakkara finished with figures of 6/39. Ragama CC began their second innings promisingly with openers Denura Dimansith (30) and Sahan Kawshalya (61 off 105 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes) sharing a partnership of 95. However the rest of the batting disappointed with the last seven wickets tumbling for 47 as Ragama CC were dismissed for 197. Left with a target of 135 to win Bloomfield openers Hasitha Amarasinghe (51* off 48 balls, 6 fours) and Mineth Premaratne (72* off 50 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) knocked the runs off in 16.1 overs.
A match-winning eighth wicket stand of 104 between Ananthan Kajan (65 off 115 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) and Chalana Perera (51 off 110 balls, 5 fours) saw Kurunegala YCC pull off a first innings win against Colts at Colts grounds. Replying to Colts’ first innings of 227, Kurunegala YCC collapsed to 121-7 before being rescued by their eighth wicket pair who took the score to 276. Seamer Sahan Mihira took 4/61 for Colts who made 70-4 in their second innings.
SSC pulled off a nervy 12-run first innings win against Army SC at the SSC grounds. Replying to SSC’s total of 322-8 declared, Army SC batsmen put on a plucky performance to score 310. A feature of their innings were the three half-century stands from their top three batters – 67 between Ashan Sudarshana (89 off 88 balls, 12 fours, 2 sixes) and Sheneshka Nethsara (16), 75 by Sudarshana and Nethmal de Zoysa (53 off 127 balls, 7 fours) and 79 by de Zoysa and skipper Sukitha Devthilina (55 off 89 balls, 8 fours). Sri Lanka all-rounder Dunith Wellalage finished with impressive figures of 6/108 off 37.4 overs.
Moors SC, Kurunegala SC, Negombo CC and CCC had to be content with first innings wins, while the Moratuwa SC v Sebastianites match ended in a draw.
Moors SC spearheaded by their captain Malsha Tharupathi (133 of 95 balls, 8 fours, 10 sixes) and his eighth wicket partnership of 141 with Sandaru Malshan (45) overhauled Badureliya CC’s total of 277 by replying with 329-9 declared. At one stage Moors SC were struggling at 183-7 with left-arm spinner Rusandu Silva having done the damage taking 4/101. Badureliya CC scored 232-7 in their second innings with Shehan Madushanka scoring 63* off 70 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) and left-arm spinner Sithum Vihanga taking 4/85.
Kurunegala SC ran short of time to beat Police SC outright at Police Park. Police SC were shot out for 86 in reply to Kurunegala SC’s first innings of 149. Kurunegala SC declared their second innings at 153-7 leaving Police SC with a target of 217 to chase. Police SC struggled to 126-6.
Vishwa Lahiru’s valiant knock of 75 off 60 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) and his tenth wicket stand of 102 with Yashin Fernando (33*) proved in vain as Panadura SC were bowled out for 208 in reply to Negombo CC’s first innings of 261. Off-spinner Amitha Perera took 4/86. Negombo CC in their second innings scored 205 with opener Vishal Rukshan scoring 50 off 69 balls (8 fours).
CCC scored a comfortable first innings win over Chilaw Marians CC at the CCC grounds. Having shot out Chilaw Marians CC for 90, CCC replied with 219. Inuka Karannagoda went on to make a top score of 89 off 160 balls (8 fours, 1 six). Left-arm spinner Irushka Thimira took 5/47 off 26 overs. Chilaw Marians CC in their second innings put up a better batting performance to score 246 courtesy fifties from Maheesha Sithum (78 off 132 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) and Sasanka Nirmal (51 off 74 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes). Left-arm seamer Abheeth Paranawidana captured 5 wickets for 58.
The Moratuwa SC-Sebastianites game ended in a drab draw at Moratuwa Stadium. In reply to Moratuwa SC’s first innings of 317, Sebastianites 245-7 off 82 overs with left-arm spinner Manuja Chanthuka taking 5/78 off 30 overs.
