Another nail in coffin for joint defending champions SSC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

It was another nail in the coffin for joint defending champions SSC as they slumped to their fourth defeat this season when BRC beat them by an innings and 48 runs in their SLC Major Club 3-day match concluded at the BRC grounds yesterday.

The defeat left SSC at the bottom of Group B and in danger of being relegated to Tier B at the end of the ongoing tournament.

The bottom two teams from each of the two groups will be relegated as SLC’s tournament committee strives to reduce the number of teams playing in the Major Club 3-day to 12 to make the tournament more competitive.

Trailing by 224 runs in the first innings, SSC who resumed their second innings at 108-4, lost their remaining six wickets for 68 runs with former Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara being the main destroyer again. Pushpakumara followed his seven wickets in the first innings with a further six (6/63) to finish with a match bag of 13/98 – his 27th ten-fer in a splendid first-class career where he is 38 wickets shy of reaching 1000 wickets. Nuwanidu Fernando leading SSC this season made a top score of 51.

Kandy Customs CC, the other club in the group fighting to avoid relegation also suffered defeat by 9 wickets at the hands of Tamil Union at Thurstan grounds. It was Tamil Union’s second win of the season having last weekend taken first innings points off Kurunegala YCC. In fact, it was a 2-day win for Tamil Union. Ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake was all over Kandy Customs CC’s batting taking a career best 8/34 in the first innings and following it up with 5/94 in the second for match figures of 13/128. With wicket number three in the second innings Ratnayake reached 300 wickets in first-class cricket. Kandy Customs CC were all out for 180 in their second innings and Tamil Union knocked the required 127 runs off losing one wicket with Thulina Dilshan contributing 61*. 

Colts went to the top of Group A with a five-wicket win against Badureliya SC at Maggona. In a low scoring game where Colts managed to squeeze out a first innings lead of eight, after resuming at 141-9 in reply to Badureliya SC’s 143, left-arm spinner Muditha Lakshan produced his best bowling performance (5/32) to put out Badureliya SC for 118 in the second innings leaving Colts the task of chasing down 111 for victory.

Defending joint champions Police SC who have been leading the race in Group A suffered their first loss when they conceded first innings points to Ragama CC at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. It was Ragama CC’s first win after four defeats. Having dismissed Police SC for 141, Ragama CC were not too happily placed when they resumed on the final day at 75-4. But southpaw Vinura Dulsara played a match winning knock of 92 off 191 balls (6 fours) to see Ragama CC reach 256. Police SC in their second innings scored 172-4 courtesy fifties from Priyamal Perera (87* off 66 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and captain Ashen Bandara (50 off 57 balls, 2 fours, 1 six).

In the key match of the weekend, CCC got the better of Moors SC in the first innings at Colts grounds. Moors SC replying to CCC’s first innings of 301 was dismissed for 249 despite fifties from Sithara Gimhan (50 off 100 balls, 5 fours) and skipper Ramesh Mendis (80 off 151 balls, 5 fours). Spinners Chaturanga de Silva and Lakshan Sandakan shared six wickets. CCC were 100-9 in their second innings with left-arm spinner Chanuka Dilshan taking 6/34.

Bloomfield moved to second spot behind Colts with a first innings win against Negombo CC at Bloomfield ground. Having taken a first innings lead of 20, Bloomfield resuming their second innings at 23-0 totalled 301 courtesy a century from Kasun Abeyrathne (115 off 187 balls, 13 fours) and his partnership of 165 with skipper Nipun Karunanayake (73 off 125 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes). With 322 to chase, Negombo CC closed on 53-3.

NCC took first innings points off Nugegoda SWC at NCC grounds to maintain their position at the top of Group B. Having conceded a first innings lead of 45 Nugegoda SWC put up a strong batting performance in the second innings scoring 294 with Angelo Perera scoring a century (120* off 90 balls, 10 fours, 5 sixes) against his former club. NCC scored 146-8 in their second innings. Ace Capital CC came up with a strong first innings score of 298-6 on the first day of their match against Chilaw Marians CC at the CCC grounds. Sammu Ashan (79) and Sakuna Liyanage (62) figured in a fifth wicket stand of 129. The match continues on its second day today.