Defending champions CCC face tall order

Isuru Udana goes on the attack during his knock of 88 off 72 balls for Tamil Union

 CCC spinner Lakshan Sandakan who finished with four wickets

• Tamil Union pile up massive 558 on day 2 of SLC Major League final

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Tamil Union’s late order batsmen continued to frustrate CCC as they helped the team to pile up a mammoth score of 558 on the second day of the SLC Major League inter-club 4-day final played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Resuming at 356-5, Tamil Union added a further 202 runs for their remaining five wickets to put themselves in a strong position to win the title.

CCC replied with 149-2 by the close to trail by 409 runs in the first innings. With two more days left in the match, an outright win seems out of the question for either side, unless one side bats badly in the second innings. In the event, a first innings win seems the most likely result.

For defending champions CCC to overhaul Tamil Union’s massive total would take some doing on a wearing pitch. It would require one or two batsmen to make a big score. CCC have two batsmen capable of doing that in national cricketers, Minod Bhanuka and Ramesh Mendis who are unbeaten on 72 (74 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and 31 respectively. If CCC are to get anywhere close to Tamil Union’s total it would require massive contributions from them.

CCC lost Sonal Dinusha (4) in the third over to Shiran Fernando, and Nimesha Gunasinghe for 33 following a 72-run stand with Bhanuka before the ship was steadied by Bhanuka in partnership with Mendis in an unfinished stand of 69.

A feature of Tamil Union’s late order batting was the contribution made by former Sri Lanka white ball all-rounder Isuru Udana who slammed a 72-ball 88 with eight fours and three sixes. During his stay in the middle Tamil Union’s total soared by 123 runs. 

Overnight pair Dilum Sudeera (32) and Ravindu Fernando (45) added 65 for the sixth wicket and a further stand of 70 followed between Sudeera and Udana. Former Royalist Kavindu Pathiratne put the final touches to an impressive Tamil Union batting performance by scoring a career best 46 off 70 balls (5 fours). Test bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Lakshan Sandakan shared the spoils with four wickets apiece for CCC.   

The match continues on its third day today.

Scores: Tamil Union 558 (o/n 356-5) (Navod Paranavithana 54, Sadeera Samarawickrama 188, Ron Chandrapugtha 48, Dilum Sudeera 32, Ravindu Fernando 45, Isuru Udana 88, Kavindu Pathiratne 46, Vishwa Fernando 4/102, Lakshan Sandakan 4/128)

CCC 149-2 at close (Nimesha Gunasinghe 33, Minod Bhanuka 72*, Kamindu Mendis 31*)