Mineth Premaratne, the former Ananda cricketer, hit a splendid 143 off 182 balls (15 fours, 4 sixes) to steer joint champions Bloomfield to a commanding first-day total of 366-6 against Negombo CC in the Under-23 Inter-Club 2-day quarter-final match played at the CCC Grounds yesterday.
Premaratne shared in two century partnerships for the first two wickets – 103 for the first with Hasitha Amarasinghe (52 off 61 balls, 10 fours) and 133 for the second with Asitha Wanninayake (51 off 82 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes). Skipper Tharinda Nirmal (50 off 121 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) and wicket-keeper Shanikya Deshapriya (55* off 74 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) piled further frustration on the Negombo CC bowlers by adding a further 96 for the sixth wicket. Medium-paced seamer Shehan Pramod took 4/139.
Kurunegala YCC and Chilaw Marians CC were locked in a tussle for the vital first innings points in their quarter-final match that began at Welisara. Invited to bat first, Kurunegala YCC were dismissed for 227, with Abishek Liyanaarachchi (70 off 95 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) and Captain Lakvin Abeysinghe (69 off 125 balls, 6 fours) scoring fifties apiece. Left-arm spinner and Captain Thimira Irushika took 5/55. In reply, Chilaw Marians CC lost six wickets for 156 by the close to trail by 71 runs with four wickets in hand. At one stage, Chilaw Marians CC were 94-6 but were rescued by their seventh-wicket pair Gimhan Rasanjana (48*) and Irushika (32*), who have so far added 62. Former Trinity College off-spinner Vathila Udara has been the most successful bowler, taking 4/52.
BRC spinners Sithuka Gunawardana (5/116) and Tharuksha Ashel (4/91) bowled defending joint champions CCC out for 268 in their quarter-final match played at Air Force Grounds, Katunayake. Sarith Sudeen hit a rapid 75 off 55 balls (12 fours, 1 six) and Rashmika Hirushan made 54 off 76 balls (5 fours) for CCC. BRC replied with 58-1, and trail by 211 runs to gain the vital first innings points.
SSC off-spinner Malsha Fernando took 5/106 to restrict Moors SC to a first-day total of 251-9 in their quarter-final match at Surrey Ground, Maggona. Wicket-keeper Vishara Fernando made a top score of 57 (83 balls, 6 fours, 1 six).
All four matches continue on their second day today. – [ST]