Last year’s finalists CCC and Police SC made winning starts on their first appearance at the Major Club 50-over tournament yesterday.
CCC, the defending champions opened their campaign to retain the title with an easy nine-wicket win against Kurunegala YCC at the Welagedara Stadium. Former Sri Lanka white ball bowler Isuru Udana showed that he still had the skill to win matches even at the age of 38 by destroying the Kurunegala YCC for 93 taking 4/25. CCC coasted home in 15.2 overs riding on Lasith Croospulle’s brisk knock of 64* off 48 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes).
Police SC plucked a 62-run (DLS method) win over SSC at Police Park. Batting first Police SC made 205 with Dhanuja Induwara’s knock of 48 being the top score. A combined bowling effort by Police SC saw SSC dismissed for 136 after being asked to chase a revised target of 199 in 46 overs. SSC began their chase well with an opening stand of 79 by Shevon Daniel (55 off 43 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) and skipper Avishka Fernando (26), but the rest of the batting failed miserably.
Ravindu Fernando’s skipper’s knock of 140 off 93 balls (14 fours, 8 sixes) for Bloomfield proved in vain as NCC chasing a revised target of 269 off 45 overs coasted home with 39 balls to spare under the DLS method at Bloomfield grounds. Chamika Karunaratne took 5/39 and Ahan Wickramasinghe hit an undefeated 108 off 82 balls (7 fours, 6 sixes) and shared in stands of 135 with Sahan Arachchige (52 off 65 balls, 5 fours) and 87 with Karunaratne (47 off 27 balls, 3 fours, 5 sixes) for NCC.
In a high scoring game at the P Sara Oval, Ace Capital CC pulled off a thrilling two-wicket win with a ball to spare (DLS method) against Tamil Union. Tamil Union hit up 279-8 with fifties from Vihas Thewmika (59 off 74 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Sharujan Shanmuganathan (57 off 69 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes). Ace Capital CC had a revised target of 247 to chase off 37 overs, got there in 36.5 overs. Ranesh Silva (52 off 46 balls, 7 fours, 1 six), Chamika Heenatigala (59 off 63 balls, 4 fours) and Wanuja Sahan (46 off 27 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes) made the major contribution to the win.
In a low scoring match at Surrey grounds, Maggona Colts sneaked through a 29-run win over Badureliya CC. Colts were bundled out for 132 by the spin of Chaturanga de Silva (4/25) and Seekkuge Prasanna (3/37), but hit back through Muditha Lakshan (5/21) to dismiss Badureliya CC for 103.
The Panadura SC v Moors SC match at Panadura esplanade ended in a no-decision with rain taking the upperhand. In the 16.2 overs possible Panadura SC scored 47-4. Former Peterite cricketer Santush Gunatilake taking 3/22. [ST]