Tamil Union and Bloomfield had close calls before winning their matches on the opening day of the Major Club 50-over tournament yesterday.
Chasing a target of 214, Tamil Union slumped to 128-7 but Minod Bhanuka played a skipper’s knock of 79* off 117 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) to guide his team home by one wicket with eight balls to spare at the Welagedara Stadium. With the help of the tail, Bhanuka shared in valuable stands of 38 with Lahiru Samarakoon (24), 30 with Tharindu Rathnayake (10) and 15* with Thilan Lorensuhewa (5*). Samarakoon also starred with the ball taking 5/26 in bowling out Kurunegala YCC for 213. Kurunegala YCC recovered from losing their first four wickets for 47 through fifties from Lakvin Abeysinghe (67 off 81 balls, 7 fours) and Amesh Tennakoon (71 off 67 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes).
Bloomfield also had to depend on their middle and lower order for their three-wicket win over Badureliya CC at Surrey grounds, Maggona. Having got Badureliya CC out for a modest 167, Bloomfield lost their top order losing four for 51. It was left to Asitha Wanninayake (47), skipper Ravindu Fernando (34) and Tharinda Nirmal (30*) to see Bloomfield home with 43 balls to spare. Spinners Seekkuge Prasanna (4/35) and Alankara Asanka (3/18) caused the early flutter in the Bloomfield batting. Nirmal ran through the Badureliya CC batting with 4/25 after seamers Dulaj Samuditha and Janith Liyanage had done the early damage to the innings with two wickets apiece.
In a high scoring game played at the Panadura esplanade, BRC defeated NCC by 32 runs. BRC notched the highest total of the day running up 304-9 thanks largely to their number seven bat Movin Subasingha who cracked a career best 140 off 72 balls inclusive of 10 fours and 14 sixes in a splendid display of power hitting. Till that point NCC had the game under their control reducing BRC to 201-7. Subasingha was involved in an eighth wicket stand of 102 off 73 balls with Tilanga Udeshana (11*). NCC were never in the hunt after losing their first six wickets for 129. Despite fifties from Yenula Dewthusa (53 off 62 balls, 5 fours) and skipper Chamika Karunaratne (82 off 66 balls, 10 fours, 5 sixes) they managed only 272. Subasingha shone with the ball as well, capturing 4/50 with his off-breaks.
Muditha Lakshan missed out on a maiden one-day century by one run as Colts suffered a five-wicket defeat at the hands of SSC at Colts grounds. Colts were all out for 250 with Lakshan making 99 off 91 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes) being last out attempting to get to his century. SSC got off the blocks in style with openers Shevon Daniel (71 off 70 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) and skipper Avishka Fernando (50 off 46 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) laying the foundation with a stand of 115 off 99 balls. Nuwanidu Fernando (54 off 42 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) and Nipun Dananjaya (30*) took SSC across the line quite comfortably with 50 balls to spare.
Fast bowler Shiran Fernando took 5/51 as Moors SC powered their way to a comprehensive six-wicket win against Nugegoda SWC at Thurstan grounds. Half-centuries from Lahiru Dawatage (56 off 56 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes) and Sachindu Colombage (54 off 57 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) enabled Nugegoda SWC to total 240. Moors SC knocked the runs off inside 40 overs with Sadeera Samarawickrama contributing 66* off 72 balls (5 fours) and Ravishan de Silva (42) and Shehan Fernando (44*).
Ace Capitals CC collapsed for 142 to the seam and spin of Navindu Prabash (3/23), Vishwa Lahiru (3/48), Dilshan Munaweera (2/38) and Thaveesha Abishek (2/15) to hand to Panadura SC an easy 70 runs win at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. National player Oshada Fernando scored 50 off 72 balls (5 fours) in Panadura SC’s total of 212-9. All-rounder Wanuja Sahan had a hand in four of those dismissals conceding 19 runs in 10 economical overs.
Defending champions CCC and runner-up Police SC had a free day.
The groupings:
nGroup A: CCC, Tamil Union, Moors SC, Panadura SC, Ace Capital CC, Nugegoda SWC, Ace Capital CC
nGroup B: Police SC, Colts, NCC, Bloomfield, Badureliya CC, BRC, SSC