Ace Capital CC continue winning streak with fourth win

Yashodha Lanka scored 138 off 80 balls for Colts to register their third win 

SLC Major Clubs Limited Overs tournament

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Group A leaders Ace Capital CC continued their winning streak in the SLC Major Clubs Limited Overs tournament to record their fourth consecutive win with a seven-wicket defeat of Chilaw Marians CC on the DLS method at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa yesterday.

Left-arm spinner Wanuja Sahan (4/31) and seamer Sithum Disanayaka (3/41) kept Chilaw Marians CC total down to 186 despite a run-a-ball 62 from opener Ashan Randika (6 fours, 3 sixes). Ace Capital CC had their target revised to 135 off 29 overs after rain had caused a stoppage to play. They reached the target in 27.5 overs courtesy an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 76 between Sammu Ashan (31*) and Sakuna Liyanage (44*).   

CCC kept a hold on the Group B leadership despite being denied a win by rain in their match against Badureliya SC which ended in a no-result at Maggona. In a 42-overs a side match CCC did well to dismiss Badureliya SC for 96 and were cruising towards victory at 41-3 off 8 overs when it started to rain and the match was abandoned from there onwards leaving both sides sharing two points. Left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha was the pick of the six successful CCC bowlers to take wickets finishing with 3/23. CCC in their haste to score the runs before the rains came lost three wickets cheaply but were still on course to win.

Colts registered their third win in as many matches to move within one point of CCC with a game in hand. They beat Kandy Customs CC by 72 runs (DLS method) at Thurstan grounds. Put into bat first Colts raced to 236-6 in 30 overs, the highlight of their innings being a stroke-filled 138 off 80 balls (10 fours, 9 sixes) from Yashodha Lanka and his opening stand of 129 with Sheran Fonseka (46). Kandy Customs CC replied with 176-4 with contributions of 46, 39 and 49* from Sasith Manuranga, Sahan Kosala and Salindu Pathirana respectively.   Defending champions SSC suffered further setbacks when their match against Tami Union at the P Sara Oval was abandoned without a ball bowled due to wet ground conditions.

In a 20-overs a side match played at Bloomfield grounds, host Bloomfield beat Negombo CC by five wickets to move to second spot behind Ace Capital CC in Group A. Negombo CC were shot out for 55 in 13.4 overs and Bloomfield surpassed that total losing five wickets. Spinners Sahan Nanayakkara, Jeffrey Vandersay and Trevin Mathew and seamer Lahiru Madushanka took two wickets apiece for Bloomfield.

Ragama CC pulled off a three-wicket win with three balls to spare on the DLS method against Panadura SC at Dombagoda. Panadura SC scored 182-6 in 43 overs largely through contributions of 59 (89 balls, 3 fours) from Kanchana de Livera and Ramesh Nimantha (46* off 51 balls, 2 sixes). Ragama CC chasing a revised target of 121 in 25 overs made 123-7 in 24.3 with Santush Gunathilake contributing 39.

TODAY’S MATCHES: BRC v Police SC at Dombagoda, Nugegoda SWC v Kurunegala YCC at Moratuwa