Tier B 3-day League Pacesetters SSC take control against United Southern SC

Saturday, 24 January 2026 05:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}


*Lakshan Gamage (152) helped Kandy Customs SC to 350-8**	Kemira Wijenayake 107 for Ragama CC	Dimuth Sandaruwan top scored for Negombo CC with 102	Galle CC’s Asela Sampath took 5/58 against Sebastianites

Pacesetters of the Tier B 3-day League SSC took control of their match against United Southern SC by capturing seven wickets for 178 to end the first day on a high at the SLLDC grounds, Kirimandala yesterday.

More than the specialists it was the part-time bowlers who did the damage to the United Southern SC innings. Nipun Dananjaya, Dinura Kalupahana and Nuwanidu Fernando captured four of the wickets with two ending in run outs. Sasanka Nirmal (51 off 190 balls, 3 fours) and Kavindu Ediriweera (74 off 203 balls, 2 fours) were the only two batsmen to bat with purpose sharing a stand of 111 for the fourth wicket.

Kandy Customs SC, Ragama CC and Negombo CC also made good starts in their matches. At the Army grounds, Dombagoda, Kandy Customs SC ran up a first day total of 350-8 against Navy SC. A feature of the innings was Lakshan Gamage’s knock of 152* off 129 balls (9 fours, 7 sixes) and his partnerships of 97 with Yashoda Mendis (43) and 127* with Kaveesha Induwara (41*). Leg-spinner Ishan Abeysekera had figures of 5/77.

At Salawa Army grounds, Kosgama, Ragama CC dismissed for 279, hit back strongly to capture 3 Moratuwa SC wickets for 21 by the close. The highlight of the Ragama CC innings was a stroke-filled century by Kemira Wijenayake (107 off 122 balls, 14 fours, 3 sixes) and the bowling of off-spinner Chanaka Ruwansiri (6/80) for Moratuwa SC.

Negombo CC also had similar success against Army SC at Panagoda. Terminated at 288, Negombo CC fought back to take 3 Army SC wickets for 37. Dimuth Sandaruwan top scored for Negombo CC with 102 off 172 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) while off-spinner Shehada Zoysa took 4/55 for Army SC.

Galle CC were well placed to gain a first innings lead against Sebastianites at Air Force grounds, Katunayake. After bowling out Sebastianites for 196, Galle CC ended the day at 73 for no loss to trail by 123 runs with all their wickets in hand. Sebastianites’ batting was dismantled by left-arm seamer Asela Sampath who went on to take 5/58. Umayanga Suwaris top scored with 52 (64 balls, 7 fours, 1 six).

The match between Colombo Malay CC and Leo CC was nicely poised at the BRC grounds. Off-spinner Malshan Gunasinghe took 6/71 to dismiss Colombo Malay CC for 217 with Pulasthi Athapaththu making a top score of 50 off 104 balls (5 fours). By stumps Leo CC were 59-3, and trail by 158 runs.

All the matches will continue on the second day today. – [ST]