Bloomfield beat Tamil Union outright by five wickets at the P. Sara Oval yesterday to qualify for a quarter-final place from Group A in the Under-23 Inter-Club 2-Day Tournament.
Joining Bloomfield for the last three quarter-final spots were Negombo CC from Group D and BRC from Group C.
Earlier, Moors SC from Group A, CCC and Chilaw Marians CC from Group B, Kurunegala YCC from Group C, and SSC from Group D had already assured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals.
Tamil Union’s batting faltered for a second time in the match, getting bowled out for 104, which left Bloomfield with the formal task of knocking off 53 for victory, which they achieved losing five wickets. Bloomfield scored 204 in their first innings, with former Sri Lanka U19 off-spinner Vihas Thewmika taking 6/67.
Negombo CC recovered from their overnight score of 117-4 in reply to Police SC’s first innings of 207 to total 283-7 declared and win on first innings at the Air Force Grounds, Katunayake. Thathsara Eshan was instrumental in Negombo CC gaining the win, scoring a defiant 95 off 159 balls (7 fours) and figuring in a vital seventh wicket stand of 69 with Kaveen Deneth (52* off 99 balls, 8 fours). Off-spinner Damith Kappagoda took 4/86.
Moors SC fell short by 30 runs to overhaul Ragama CC’s first innings of 183 despite a spirited knock of 71* off 86 balls (8 fours) from Sandaru Malshan at the Moors SC Grounds. Ragama CC in their second innings came up with a better batting display, scoring 338-8. Denura Dimansith made 137 off 184 balls (13 fours, 2 sixes) and shared a 114-run stand with Lahiru Abeysinghe (62 off 73 balls, 9 fours, 1 six). Off-spinner Sandaru Malshan took 5/89.
In the other matches concluded yesterday, CCC, SSC, Kandy Customs SC, Ace Capital CC, and United Southern SC won in the first innings.
The left-arm spin of Inuka Karannagoda (7/56) resulted in Leo CC being dismissed for 241 in reply to CCC’s first innings of 348 at the CCC Grounds. Salindu Pathirana alone stood tall, compiling a century off 108 balls (15 fours, 1 six) for Leo CC. CCC made 15-0 in their second innings when the match was called off before the start of the mandatory overs.
SSC took a first innings lead of 115, scoring 292 in reply to Panadura SC’s first innings of 177 at the SSC Grounds. SSC Captain Shevon Daniel went on to complete a fine century (121 off 144 balls, 14 fours, 2 sixes) sharing a fourth wicket stand of 156 with Ranuda Somarathne (47). Off-spinner Malintha Silva picked up five wickets for 86. Panadura SC in their second innings scored 199-9, with Liviru Fernando notching 85 (108 balls, 14 fours) and off-spinner Malsha Fernando taking 5/74 for a match bag of 12/113.
Kandy Customs SC put up a marvellous all-round batting display to overhaul Kurunegala SC’s total of 314 by scoring 339 at the Welagedara Stadium. Helith Edirisinghe led the way with a compact 87 off 114 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes) and Kaveesha Induwara scored 52 (62 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) in addition to five other batsmen making 25 or more.
Ace Capital CC came up with a similar batting display to overhaul BRC’s total of 387-6 declared at the BRC Grounds. Six batsmen made over 25 and played around Thisara Ekanayake’s knock of 143 off 173 balls (20 fours) as Ace Capital CC replied with 391-9. Off-spinner Tharushka Ashel took 4/108. Despite the loss, BRC qualified for the quarter-finals.
NCC and United Southern SC played out a thrilling draw at the NCC Grounds, with both sides in with a chance of pulling off an outright win. Chasing a target of 223, United Southern SC finished on 214-9, with NCC requiring one wicket and United Southern SC nine runs. Having already conceded first innings points on the first day, NCC tried their best to win outright by declaring at 244-7 courtesy a century – 107 off 118 balls (9 fours) – from Dineth Goonewardena, who added 142 with Yenula Dewthusa (64 off 83 balls, 8 fours), but ran out of time.
Like Badureliya CC the previous week, Nugegoda SWC went on a run splurge to no avail as their fixture against Navy SC ended in a tame draw at the Panadura esplanade. Nugegoda SWC ran up the highest total of the tournament, scoring 661-6 declared, a larger part of the runs coming off the bat of former Peterite opener Lahiru Dawatage, who went on to complete a triple century – 314 off 321 balls (36 fours, 3 sixes) – and Sandun Mendis (124* off 180 balls, 15 fours). The two shared a double-century stand of 267 for the sixth wicket. Navy SC in reply scored 149-7. – [ST]