Bloomfield upsets Group B leaders SSC

• Last year’s finalists Tamil Union, Army SC also suffer defeats

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Police SC drove another nail into the coffin of Tamil Union towards defending their SLC Major Limited Overs title when they pulled off a two-wicket win at Police grounds yesterday. It was Tamil Union’s second successive defeat in the ongoing tournament and placed them in great danger of failing to qualify for a place in the semi-finals.

One of the key factors in Tamil Union’s losses is that skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama has so far been unable to reproduce the batting form he showed during the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India. In the three innings he has played so far, Samarawickrama has been dismissed for scores of 3, 6 and 17. Although Tamil Union fought tooth and nail to defend their low total of 111 by capturing eight wickets, they could not prevent Police SC from nudging ahead to register their first win in a low scoring game. The defeat left Tamil Union in eighth place with four games to play in Group A.

Army SC, runner-up to Tamil Union last year, was also at the receiving end when NCC beat them by four wickets at the NCC grounds in a Group B match. After spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (career best 5/43) and Ashian Daniel (2/42) had bowled out Army SC for 163, national cricketer Pathum Nissanka struck a brilliant 73 off 43 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes) to see NCC home in 25.1 overs, despite former Sri Lanka spinner Seekkuge Prasanna picking up five of the six wickets to fall.

Bloomfield pulled off an upset 19-run win (DLS method) over Group B leaders SSC at Bloomfield grounds to become the new challengers along with Chilaw Marians CC who also won their fixture against Panadura SC by 144 runs at Panadura. Chilaw Marians CC and Bloomfield (9 points each) trail SSC by just one point.

Former Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer Vishva Chaturanga scored his maiden one-day century (112 off 93 balls, 11 fours, 6 sixes) to play the stellar role in Chilaw Marians CC win. Chilaw Marians CC hit up an impressive 281 and dismissed Panadura SC for 137 with seamer Thikshila de Silva (4/28) and 19-year-old left-arm spinner Irushka Thimira (career best 4/37) routing Panadura SC for 137.

Spinners Prabath Jayasuriya (5/21) and Charith Asalanka (4/35) bowled Bloomfield out for 168, but SSC with seven national caps struggled against the spin of Sahan Nanayakkara, Jeffrey Vandersay and Sandun Weerakkody to be 132-8 when rain ended play - 20 runs short of the par score.     

Negombo CC and Colts kept pace with Group A leaders Sebastianites with wins over CCC and Air Force SC respectively. Both teams (with 9 points each) trail Sebastianites by one point with a game in hand. Spinners Nishan Peiris (4/27) and Jatin Saxena (4/20) dismissed CCC with eight national cricketers in the side for 162 at FTZ grounds, Katunayake. CCC fought back with national player Asitha Fernando capturing 4/28, but contributions of 44 from Umesh Lakshan and 54 off 90 balls from Himasha Liyanage saw them home by three wickets in 46 overs.

Colts successfully defended their total of 197 by dismissing Air Force SC for 118 to win by 79 runs at Katunayake. Spinners dominated the match with Colts’ skipper and former national cricketer Akila Dananjaya leading from the front with five wickets for 46 supported by national cricketer Dunith Wellalage (3/37). Air Force SC leg-spinner Madushanka Premaratne took his maiden five-fer (5/30) in one-day cricket.    

Sri Lanka’s Under-19 cricketer Wanuja Sahan produced one-day career best figures of 6/33 of left-arm spin to restrict Badureliya SC for 194-9 at Maggona, but Ace Capital CC’s batting was destroyed for 113 by the spin of Badureliya SC skipper Alankara Asanka who followed his knock of 56 off 91 balls (5 fours) with figures of 4/36 and Ayana Siriwardhana (5/18) to lose by 81 runs.     

BRC registered their first win at the expense of Kandy Customs CC winning by two wickets at BRC grounds. Former Jaffna St John’s College off-spinner Murvin Abinash took his maiden five-fer (5/27) to terminate Kandy Customs CC for 140, then BRC skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa struck an unbeaten 51 off 61 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes) to steer his team to victory.

The Galle CC v Moors SC match at Galle ended in a no-result with rain halting Moors SC’s reply at 60-2 in 11.2 overs chasing Galle CC’s score of 182-9.