Tamil Union turn tables on Bloomfield – win by one wicket

SLC Under-23 inter-club 2-day tournament

Having conceded a first innings lead of 61, Tamil Union turned tables on Bloomfield to pull off an exciting one-wicket win and take full points in their SLC Under-23 inter-club 2-day match concluded at Bloomfield grounds yesterday.

In reply to Bloomfield’s first innings, Tamil Union were knocked over for 156 with off-spinner Tharindu Guruge capturing 8/75 off 18.1 overs. But Tamil Union fought back to put out Bloomfield for 108, leaving themselves a target of 170 to chase. They started off well with an opening stand of 60 off 44 balls between Shanuka Galagoda (28) and Sineth Jayawardena (32) and a fifty from skipper Isivara Dissanayake (51 off 58 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) but they lost their way and slumped to 151-8. It was left to left-arm spinner Mevan Dissanayake who had taken a match bag of 12/106 to show his skill with the bat scoring an undefeated 12* off 36 balls to see Bloomfield home. Guruge picked up a further three wickets to end with a bag of 11/164.

Spinners Sasanka Nirmal (6/77) in the first innings and left-arm spinner Sithuka Gunawardena (5/9) in the second dismissed Army SC for 206 and 69 to bring United Southern SC a win by 166 runs at Army grounds, Panagoda. United Southern SC in their second innings scored 162.

Ace Capital CC took first innings points from Badureliya CC in a high scoring game played at Thurstan grounds. Replying to Badureliya CC’s 388, Ace Capital CC slipped to 219-7, but a magnificent rearguard action from Ranesh Silva (a run a ball 143 with 12 fours, 2 sixes) and Danal Hemananda (84* off 113 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) who put on 155 for the eighth wicket saw them end up on 406-9. Pawan Pathiraja scored 78 off 70 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes) at the top of the order. For Badureliya CC skipper Shanikya Deshapriya scored 114 off 125 balls (15 fours, 1 six).

Ragama CC held out to force a draw depriving Negombo CC of taking full points at Air Force grounds, Katunayake. Negombo CC took a healthy first innings lead of 178 scoring 321-9 declared with skipper Kaveen Fernando going onto compile 167 off 179 balls (19 fours, 4 sixes). Ragama CC dismissed for 143 struggled to 146-8 in their second attempt.

Chilaw Marians CC bowled out Moors SC for 164 in reply to their massive first innings of 420-7 declared, but surprisingly did not enforce the follow-on and had to settle only for first innings points at Maggona. Spinners Thimira Irushika and Melan Hansaka shared eight wickets for Chilaw Marians CC, who in their second attempt scored 230 with skipper Sakuna Liyanage adding 65 (57 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) to his first innings century and left-arm spinner Kavindu Kaushalya taking 5/45. Moors SC scored 30-0 in their second innings.

Nugegoda SWC produced a convincing batting performance to take first innings points off BRC at Salawa Army grounds, Kosgama. An exhilarating knock of 146 off 142 balls (10 fours, 7 sixes) from former Sri Lanka U19 cricketer Pulindu Perera and his stand of 151 for the third wicket with Abishek Anandakumara (64 off 118 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) saw Nugegoda SWC score 349-7 in reply to BRC’s 284.

Kandy Customs SC had to thank their eighth wicket pair Kaveesha Induwara (72 off 133 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Minindu Silva (64 off 91 balls, 5 fours) who added 133 to enable them surpass Galle CC’s score of 200 and reply with 247 at Army ground, Dombagoda and win on first innings. Off-spinner Manitha Rajapaksha took 7/88 for Galle CC who in their second innings scored 82-3.

CCC had the better of exchanges against Colts at Colts grounds winning in the first innings by dismissing Colts for 139 in reply to their first innings of 214. Leg-spinner Thisaru Wanninayake did the damage to the Colts innings with 6/33. In CCC’s second innings of 328-3, Pavan Rathnayake hit a brilliant 151* off 133 balls (12 fours, 7 sixes) and shared an unbroken stand of 183 with Sahan Kosala (73* off 63 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes).

In the match that began yesterday at Police Park, Police SC rattled off 303-9 declared riding on a captain’s knock of 114 off 135 balls (12 fours) from Rashmika Hirushan. Kurunegala YCC will resume today at 8-0. (ST)