In a crucial Under-23 Inter-Club 2-day Group A game played at the P. Sara Oval yesterday, Bloomfield held the upper hand on the opening day against Tamil Union.
Former Richmond College off-spinner Tharinda Nirmal took five Tamil Union wickets for 38 runs to put them out for 152. By the close Bloomfield had wiped out 81 of those runs losing three wickets and required a further 72 runs to gain the vital first innings lead.
Group A table toppers Moors SC were in dire straits in their match against Ragama CC at Moors SC grounds. Left-arm seamer Dinith Kumarasinghe took 4/32 to bowl out Ragama CC for 183 for whom Lahiru Abeysinghe (50 off 72 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and Captain Dasith Gunathilaka (53 off 61 balls, 2 fours, 5 sixes) hit fifties apiece. Moors SC in their turn slumped to 110-8 by the close, their batting being dismantled by seamer Kaveesha Liyanarachchi (3/24) and left-arm spinner Maleesha Silva (4/18).
BRC vying for a quarter-final place from Group C have begun their match against Ace Capital CC at the BRC grounds well, posting a first day total of 387-6 based largely on a fabulous double century from opener Isuru Fernando (201* off 251 balls, 23 fours, 4 sixes) and a century (109* off 128 balls, 9 fours, 4 sixes) from Lithma Perera who together shared a double century stand of 217 for the sixth wicket.
From the same group Nugegoda SWC made the highest total of the day reaching 410-5 against Navy SC at the Panadura esplanade. Former Peterite Lahiru Dawatage was nine runs shy of reaching a double century having faced 229 balls for his 191* (23 fours). With skipper Dasis Manchanayake (81 off 85 balls, 12 fours, 3 sixes) Dawatage added 130 for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the big total.
Former Mahanama College wicket-keeper/batsman Anjala Bandara hit a sparkling 157 off 220 balls (19 fours) to take Group B table leaders CCC to a first day total of 328-8 against Leo CC at the CCC grounds. Bandara shared a third wicket stand of 133 with Sanul Weerarathna (70 off 129 balls, 8 fours). Seamer Nethma Karunaratne took 4/65.
Off-spinner Amith Perera (4/66) and right-arm medium-fast seamer Shehan Pramod (5/64) brought about the downfall of Police SC for 207 at Air Force grounds, Katunayake. Police SC skipper Dhanuja Induwara missed out on a century three runs (97 off 106 balls, 13 fours, 1 six). By the close Negombo CC had lost 4 for 117 to trail by 90 runs.
Group D leaders SSC were in control of their match against Panadura SC at the SSC grounds. Former Nalanda College off-spinner Malsha Fernando took 7/39 off 18 overs to dismiss Panadura SC for 177 where Asadisa de Silva’s 50 (80 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) was the top score. SSC finished two runs short of overtaking Panadura SC’s total on 176-3 courtesy of fifties from Rivith Jaysuriya (56 off 59 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) and skipper Shevon Daniel (61* off 79 balls, 8 fours, 1 six).
United Southern SC scraped through to a first innings win against NCC at the NCC grounds, after spinners Sumeda Sampath and Damesh Mathishan took seven wickets between them to terminate the NCC innings for 131. United Southern SC lost their eighth wicket at 113, but their ninth wicket pair batted with purpose to put them in front and gain a first innings lead of 22. Shaveen Perera top scored for NCC with 53 (58 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes). NCC in their second innings were 38-3.
Kurunegala SC powered by a century (128 off 194 balls, 10 fours) from wicket-keeper Janith Ravishka and his stand of 149 with Yashmith Jayasundara (67 off 109 balls, 6 fours) made 314 against Kandy Customs SC at the Welagedara Stadium. By the close Kandy Customs SC had made 15-1. Adeesha Pabasara took 5/100 bowling left-arm chinaman. These matches will continue on its second day today.
Meanwhile, Chilaw Marians CC took first innings points off Galle CC at the Moratuwa Stadium to qualify for a quarter-final place from Group C. Chilaw Marians CC built on their first innings lead of 62 by declaring at 314-8 leaving Galle CC with the tall task of chasing 377 for a win at the Moratuwa Stadium. A feature of the Chilaw Marians CC innings was the fifth wicket stand of 159 between Darshaka Sandeep (101 off 136 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) and Yasiru Lakshan (65 off 118 balls, 8 fours). Off-spinner Manitha Rajapaksa took 4/95 for match figures of 9/139. Galle CC finished on 124-5. – [ST]