Another loss and SSC are fast sinking

• Dasun Shanaka’s century in vain

The lights are going out fast for joint defending champions SSC as they suffered another loss in the ongoing SLC Major Club 3-day tournament losing in the first innings to Moors SC at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

SSC are lying at the bottom of Group B without a single win for the season in six matches and have only two matches in hand against Tamil Union and NCC to avoid finishing at the bottom two of the group and being relegated next season.

Two of the three players SSC flew down from UAE to strengthen the team made useful contributions – Charith Asalanka (66 off 110 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) and Dasun Shanaka (123 off 87 balls, 10 fours, 8 sixes) but the contribution from the rest of the batters was poor as SSC fell 137 runs short of Moors SC’s first innings total of 412-9 declared being dismissed for 275. Left-arm spinner Chanuka Dilshan was the wrecker in chief of the SSC innings ending with figures of 6/95. Moors SC in their second innings scored 171-6 (Pasindu Sooriyabandara scoring his second fifty of the match 85 and 61) leaving SSC 309 to chase. By stumps they were 105-1.

Negombo CC struggling at the bottom of Group A were also at the receiving end losing by 254 runs to Ace Capital CC at BOI grounds, Negombo. With a lead of 75 in the first innings, Ace Capital CC declared their second innings at 327-5 leaving Negombo CC the tall task of chasing down 403. But they folded up for 148 with Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya schoolboy cricketer Melan Hansaka making a memorable first-class debut by capturing 5/55 with his leg-breaks. With this win Ace Capital CC moved to second spot in the group behind Bloomfield with only a fraction of points separating the two.

Chilaw Marians CC, another team trying to avoid being relegated, pulled off a 10-wicket win over Panadura SC at Hambantota. Forced to follow-on 157 runs in arrears Panadura SC were bowled out for 174 in their second innings leaving Chilaw Marians CC the formality of knocking off 18 runs for victory. Left-arm spinner Duvindu Tillakaratne took 4/53 and seamer Heshan Hettiarachchi 3/15.

Tamil Union who took some time to get their campaign off the ground secured their third straight win when they defeated BRC by 169 runs at BRC grounds to move to second spot behind NCC in Group B. Chasing a target of 282, BRC folded up tamely for 112 with Navod Paranavithana returning career best figures of 6/18 with his left-arm slow medium deliveries to follow his contribution of 98 with the bat. He was greatly assisted by ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake who followed his career best 9/65 in the first innings with a further four wickets for match figures of 13/150. Leading Tamil Union, Ratnayake also hit a top score of 81 in the second innings to go with his splendid bowling. Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara who took a match bag of 11 wickets was unlucky to finish on the losing side. 

In a high scoring game at NCC grounds, the host side made a strong reply to CCC’s first innings of 474 scoring 476-6 to maintain their grip at the top of Group B. A feature of the NCC innings were centuries scored by Kamil Mishara (119 off 254 balls, 10 fours), skipper Sahan Arachchige (125 off 231 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) and Kavin Bandara (110* off 113 balls, 11 fours, 1 six), the former DS Senanayake left-hander his maiden first-class century. Mishara and Arachchige figured in a third wicket stand of 227 and Bandara and Ashian Daniel (63*) 124* for the seventh.

Ragama CC forced to follow-on by Colts forced a draw at Colts grounds. Replying to Colts’ massive first innings of 506-6 declared, Ragama CC dismissed for 292, scored 191-6 in their second innings.

Kurunegala YCC took first innings points off Nugegoda SWC in their match concluded at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. Nugegoda SWC resuming at 157-7 in their first innings in reply to Kurunegala YCC’s 277, were all out for 179. Kurunegala YCC in their second innings declared at 226-8 (Lakshan Edirisinghe 95) leaving Nugegoda SWC 325 to chase. They finished on 1-2. Tillakaratne Sampath, the Nugegoda SWC skipper took a match bag of 10 wickets (6/48 and 4/53) with his off-breaks. – [ST]