Avishka century puts SSC on top on rain-hit first day

SSC opener Avishka Fernando celebrates his century

Avishka Fernando and Shevon Daniel gave SSC a solid foundation with an 

opening stand of 111 

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

A sublime century from Avishka Fernando, his fourth in first-class cricket and a compact fifty from Shevon Daniel saw SSC take the upper hand on the opening day of the rain-hit four-day final of the Major Club 3-day tournament against Police SC played at the NCC grounds yesterday.

SSC ended the day brought forward by rain on 250-3 off 63 overs after being invited to bat first by Police SC with Kusal Mendis (29*) and Nuwanidu Fernando (7*) at the wickets.

The day was dominated by Fernando who figured in two fruitful partnerships to give SSC dominance over Police SC. With Daniel, Fernando laid the foundation for a big SSC total by putting on 111 off 27 overs in the first session of play.

Police SC’s only success in that session was the wicket of Daniel in the last over before lunch when he holed out to Kusal Perera at long-on for a well-constructed 56 scored off 88 balls (7 fours) to give left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara his 73rd wicket of the season, thus making him the leading wicket-taker. Pushpakumara was level on 72 wickets with Colts’ spinner Akila Dananjaya before the start of the match.  

Police SC were unable to make the early breakthrough they were looking for when they invited SSC to bat on a pitch which had a little bit of movement for the seamers, but surprisingly they opened the bowling with the spin of Pushpakumara, who has been the mainstay of their success.

After a cautious beginning SSC openers Fernando and Daniel opened out to score freely pouncing on the loose balls and making capital of it. Following Daniel’s dismissal Fernando was joined by skipper Nipun Dananjaya and with the wicket settling down and favouring the batsmen the two produced some sparkling cricket putting together a partnership of 88 for the second wicket.

Fernando completed his century off 131 balls batting with flamboyance hitting nine fours and three sixes, but in the first over after the afternoon drinks break, he tried to loft spinner Nalin Priyadarshana and only succeeded in giving a catch to Priyamal Perera at deep midwicket.

Police SC captured two wickets in the afternoon session when SSC added a further 125 runs to maintain their dominance. SSC lost Dananjaya for 40 when he mistimed a drive and was caught at mid-off by Pushpakumara to give seamer Charuka Pramod a deserving first wicket. Pramod was unlucky in his opening spell, beating the bat of Fernando quite often without finding the edge.

Mendis and Nuwanidu began constructing another partnership but their progress was impeded by the rain. The match continues on its second day today.

Scores: SSC 250-3 at close (Shevon Daniel 56, Avishka Fernando 107, Nipun Dananjaya 40, Kusal Mendis 29*) v Police SC