The quarter-final matches of the Under-23 Inter-Club 2-day tournament which ended yesterday saw major reverses with top clubs like SSC and CCC being eliminated.
Bloomfield, Moors SC, BRC and Kurunegala YCC all advanced to the semi-finals with first innings victories.
Joint defending champions CCC were beaten in the first innings by BRC at Air Force grounds, Katunayake. CCC’s moderate total of 268 did not pose any threat to BRC who replied with 328-8. Outstanding for BRC were former Thomian all-rounder Yasiru Rodrigo who hit an unbeaten century off 209 balls (7 fours) and opener Isuru Fernando whose knock of 86 (137 balls, 7 fours) at the top of the order provided stability to the batting. Off-spinner Venura Vithanage bowled splendidly to take 6/93 off 32 overs, to no avail.
SSC put up a poor display of batting to concede first innings points to Moors SC at Surrey grounds, Maggona. After their bowlers had dismissed Moors SC for a modest 258, the SSC collapsed for 162. They lost their first seven wickets for 92 and if not for Yohan Dewappriya’s half-century (54 off 61 balls, 7 fours) they would have been in a worse plight. Off-spinner Sandaru Malshan spun a web around the SSC batsmen to finish with 5/68. Moors SC in their second innings made 174-1 with their top three batters thumping half-centuries – skipper Ravishan de Silva (63* off 94 balls, 3 fours), Omesh Mendis (56 off 27 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Hirun Matheesha (55* off 71 balls, 7 fours).
Joint defending champions Bloomfield marched into the semi-finals with authority, beating Negombo CC quite comprehensively in the first innings at the CCC grounds. Continuing from their overnight score of 366-6 Bloomfield went onto 586-9 before declaring. Shanikya Deshapriya (119* off 140 balls, 8 fours, 3 sixes) and Hansamana de Silva (91 off 73 balls, 6 fours, 8 sixes) poured further frustration on the Negombo CC bowlers by featuring in a seventh wicket stand worth 133. Negombo CC’s batting was compressed for 197 by spinners Tharinda Nirmal (5/44) and Kaveesha Piyumal (3/64). Their top scorer was number nine Amitha Sandeepa (49*).
Kurunegala YCC had the better of exchanges against Chilaw Marians CC sneaking through to a first innings win by 27 runs at Welisara. Only Gimhan Rasanjana (70 off 90 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) was able to withstand the off-breaks of former Trinitian Vathila Udara who ended up with figures of 7/61 off 18.2 overs as Chilaw Marians CC were bowled out for 200 in reply to Kurunegala YCC’s 227. Kurunegala YCC in their second innings scored 298-9 with their Captain Lakvin Abeysinghe contributing a robust 171 off 188 balls (18 fours, 3 sixes). Left-arm spinner Thimira Irushika picked up another four wickets for match figures of 9/144.
The semi-final line up for 31 July and 1 August: Bloomfield v Moors SC at Surrey grounds, Maggona; and BRC v Kurunegala YCC at CCC grounds.