Chandraguptha century puts Bloomfield in dominant position

Thursday, 6 March 2025 03:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hasitha Boyagoda and Ron Chandraguptha put on 115 for the first wicket

Asitha Wanninayake and Ron Chandraguptha during their unbroken stand of 141

Day 1 of SLC Major Club 4-day final

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Bloomfield opener Ron Chandraguptha exults after reaching his century

Ron Chandraguptha, the former left-handed opening bat from Trinity College scored his 11th hundred and passed 5000 runs in first-class cricket to place Bloomfield in a dominant position on the opening day of the SLC Major Club 4-day final against NCC at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Chandraguptha batted throughout the entire day to build up a well-crafted innings of 140* off 279 balls inclusive of 14 fours to enable Bloomfield who won the toss and batted first, to end strongly on 260-1. It was his second back to back century having scored 119 in Bloomfield’s match against Badureliya SC five days ago.

Chandraguptha played the sheet anchor role holding up one end as he built up two century partnerships during his long tenure at the crease to place his team in a position to run up a huge first innings total.

Hasitha Boyagoda (52 off 115 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) helped Chandraguptha in an opening stand of 119 to lay the foundation for such a total and following his dismissal, Asitha Wanninayake took over to partner Chandraguptha in a further partnership of 141 runs for the second wicket which is still thriving.

Wanninayake who saw Chandraguptha to his century which he reached off 196 balls with the aid of 9 fours, finished the day unbeaten on 62 scored off 148 balls (8 fours).

On a placid first day pitch that hardly offered any assistance to the bowlers, NCC were made to work hard for success. At the end of the day they were left to rue the dropped chance by Pathum Nissanka at mid-on off spinner Ashian Daniel when Chandraguptha was on 30. It has so far proved a rather expensive miss.

Lahiru Kumara was the most successful of the seven bowlers tried out by NCC finishing with 1/50 off 14 overs.

The match continues at 10 a.m. on its second day today.

Scores: Bloomfield 260-1 at close (Ron Chandraguptha 140*, Hasitha Boyagoda 52, Asitha Wanninayake 62*) v NCC

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