Group leaders SSC, Police SC make impressive beginnings in SLC Major Club 3-day tournament

Nuwanidu Fernando led SSC’s run spree against Kandy Customs CC with a fine century

Colts seamer Udith Madushan appeals on his way to career best figures of 4/24

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Group leaders SSC (Group A) and Police SC (Group B) made impressive starts to their respective matches on the opening day of the SLC Major Club 3-day tournament yesterday.

Group B table leaders Police SC had Moors SC struggling at 120-8 before bad light and rain brought an early end at Moors grounds. Apart from Janishka Perera (52 off 79 balls, 5 fours) and Sohan de Livera (49) none of the other batsmen were comfortable against the left-arm spin of former Sri Lanka cricketer Malinda Pushpakumara who finished the day with impressive figures of 5/58 – his 80th five-fer in an illustrious career spanning 157 first-class matches.

Group A frontrunners SSC invited to bat first by Kandy Customs CC at the SSC grounds struck it rich to reach 394-8 off 90 overs. The feature of their batting was a finely structured century (105 off 141 balls, 14 fours, 1 six) from Nuwanidu Fernando and a hard hit 96 off 117 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes) from Dasun Shanaka. Wicket-keeper Manoj Sarathchandra chipped in with a useful 54 off 70 balls (4 fours).

Colts batted themselves into a strong position against Negombo CC at Colts grounds. After bowling out Negombo CC for 147 courtesy career best figures of 4/24 from seamer Udith Madushan and spinner Akila Dananjaya (3/20), Colts finished 73 behind on 74-3.

Ace Capital CC ended the first day of their match at FTZ Sports Complex Katunayake 22 runs shy of grabbing first innings points against Tamil Union with three wickets in hand. Tamil Union were bundled out for 124 with only national cricketer Dhananjaya de Silva making any sort of impression with the bat scoring an undefeated 55 off 102 balls (2 fours) against the left-arm spin of Sri Lanka U19 cricketer Wanuja Sahan (6/46) and the off-breaks of Roshan Jayatissa (4/58). Ace Capital CC also struggled against spin finishing the day on 103-7.

CCC skipper Ashan Priyanjan took 5/45 with his off-breaks to dismiss Ragama CC for 194 at P Sara Oval. Sri Lanka Test opener Nishan Madushka leading Ragama CC played a captain’s knock of 101 off 137 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes). By stumps CCC had replied with 4-0.

Sri Lanka white ball all-rounder Dushan Hemantha showed his prowess as a batsman when he scored an attractive century (102 off 113 balls, 4 fours, 7 sixes) for BRC to finish strongly on 356-9 against Panadura SC at BRC grounds. Dulash Udayanga contributed a stroke-filled half-century (51 off 75 balls, 10 fours). Off-spinner Rajeewa Weerasinghe was the pick of the Panadura SC bowlers finishing with 5/93.    

Spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (4/72) and Ashian Daniel (5/51) spun out Air Force SC for 153. By the close NCC had already gained first innings points replying with 193-7 with Kamil Mishara unbeaten on a solid 61* off 141 balls (4 fours, 1 six).

Rain brought an early end to the first day of the match between Galle CC and Army SC at the Galle Cricket Stadium with Test opener Oshada Fernando eight runs shy of his 20th first-class century. Fernando batting one down was undefeated on 92 scored off 104 balls (12 fours) as Galle CC finished on 191-3 off 51 overs. Oshada and Shalith Fernando (55* off 83 balls, 6 fours) figured in an unfinished fourth wicket stand of 134 after Galle CC who chose to bat first had lost their first three wickets for 57.

Badureliya SC ended the first day of their match brought forward by rain at Maggona on 120-8 after dismissing Bloomfield for a similar score of 120. Indian-born all-rounder Parvez Rasool ran through the Bloomfield batting taking his fourth five-fer of the season (6/43) and going past 50 wickets. Badureliya SC in reply was also in deep trouble, sinking to 54-8 before they were rescued by an unfinished ninth wicket partnership of 66 between Maduranga Zoysa (44* off 55 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Rohan Sanjaya (30* off 49 balls, 3 fours). Left-arm spinner Sahana Nanayakkara had figures of 5/49.   

Only 26.5 overs were possible at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa where Sebastianites winning the toss and batting first scored 68-1 against Chilaw Marians CC.