Chandraguptha scores maiden double ton as Bloomfield pile up 508

Friday, 7 March 2025 03:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ron Chandraguptha and Asitha Wanninayake during their double century stand

Lahiru Kumara takes career best 6/87 for NCC
Day 2 of SLC Major Club 4-day final

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Ron Chandraguptha relishes the moment after reaching his maiden double century

Lahiru Kumara at his fearsome best taking a career best 6

NCC were left with the task of batting out the remaining two days of the SLC Major Club 4-day final at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium and try to overhaul Bloomfield’s first innings total after they had piled up 508, riding on opening batsman Ron Chandraguptha’s maiden double hundred on the second day yesterday.

The task is not beyond NCC who has a strong batting line-up with no less than six batsmen having scored 11 hundreds in the tournament so far. With the wicket showing no signs of wear and tear this final is heading for a finish in the first innings.

It was another day dominated by Bloomfield who carried from their overnight total of 260-1 to add a further 248 for the loss of nine wickets. Their innings was based largely on Chandraguptha’s double century – 237 off 493 balls (20 fours, 1 six) before he was sixth out at 496 when he edged a Lahiru Kumara delivery to wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Following his dismissal the rest of the Bloomfield innings didn’t last long as Kumara armed with the third new ball produced a fiery spell of fast bowling to rip through the lower order grabbing three wickets in his 28th over to end with career best figures of 6/87.

The day began with Chandraguptha and Asitha Wanninayake carrying their second wicket stand to worth 200 before NCC finally broke through. Wanninayake who had batted solidly for 225 balls (13 fours) was unfortunately run out for 96.

With Chandraguptha rock solid at one end the runs continued to pile up from the other end. Chandraguptha surpassed his previous highest score of 157 for CCC v Tamil Union at Colts grounds in 2016-17 before reaching his double hundred off 394 balls with a four scored off Kumara – his 18th in addition to a six. He reached the landmark in the company of his captain Nipun Karunanayake (37) with whom he put on 75 runs for the fourth wicket.

A further stand of 94 followed for the fifth wicket between Chandraguptha and Lahiru Madushanka (55 off 91 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) carrying Bloomfield to 492-5 before Kumara brought a swift end to the innings.

The match continues on its third day today commencing 10 a.m.

Scores: Bloomfield 508 (Hasitha Boyagoda 52, Ron Chandraguptha 237, Asitha Wanninayake 96, Nipun Karunanayake 37, Lahiru Madushanka 55, Lahiru Kumara 6/87, Ashian Daniel 2/93) v NCC

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