Kusal Mendis, Mathews lead the way on opening day of cricket

Former captain Angelo Mathews made a memorable return to the Colts side with 80 not out against Saracens SC

• All seven toss-winning captains invite opposition to bat first

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

CCC captain Kusal Mendis led the way with a brilliant unbeaten 100 with former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews not far behind from joining him with a compact knock of 80 not out for Colts on the opening day of the SLC Premier Super Eight second round matches which commenced at four venues yesterday.

Mendis was one of four captains to top score for their side on a day that saw all seven teams (Super Eight and Plate) that won the toss choosing to field first, apparently not wanting to take a chance with how the pitch may behave after a five-month lay-off from cricket due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mendis who was in imperious form scored 132 not out off 213 balls with 18 fours that saw defending champs CCC pile up a massive first day total of 353 for four wickets against Ragama CC.  Wicket-keeper/opening bat Minod Bhanuka (88 off 93 balls), Ashen Priyanjan (58) and Wanindu Hasaranga (51 not out) were the other batsmen to contribute substantially towards CCC’s total.  

Colts ran up an impressive 256-2 against Saracens SC with their top four batters all contributing runs. Openers Sadeera Samarawickrama (41) and Avishka Fernando (66) put together a stand of 111 which was further improved upon by the third wicket pair Santhush Gunathilaka and Angelo Mathews who have so far added 142 in an unfinished partnership.

Mathews playing his first first-class match for Colts for seven years struck six fours in his unbeaten knock of 80 which has come off 128 balls and Gunathilaka had three fours in his innings of 60 not out. Sri Lanka fast bowler Kasun Rajitha was the pick of the Saracens bowlers capturing the wickets of both openers for 65 runs.   

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Asela Gunaratne captaining the Sri Lanka Army top scored for them with a half century as they were reduced to 236-9 by the close by NCC’s left-arm bowlers Dilesh Gunaratne and Chaturanga de Silva who took seven wickets between them. Former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was a notable failure being stumped by his Lankan team mate Niroshan Dickwella for 19.

Sri Lanka Test opener Oshada Fernando was the other captain to top score for his team when he made an attractive 42 off 54 balls as Chilaw Marians CC were bowled out for 195 by BRC. The Marians however hit back to capture five BRC wickets for 67 runs by stumps.

The Marians’ batting was undone by the sons of two former Sri Lanka cricketers Champaka Ramanayake and Hashan Tillakaratne. Hashen Ramanayake bowling right-arm medium-fast like his father and Duvindu Tillakaratne bowling slow left-arm orthodox shared six wickets between them. BRC skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa also chipped in with three wickets. In the Plate championships Chanaka Ruwansiri rescued Lankan CC with a captain’s innings 124 off 137 balls that included nine sixes. Lankan CC who lost half their side for 92 recovered to total a decent 270 and then captured three Negombo CC wickets for 64 runs.

Super Eight day one scores

At CCC: Chilaw Marians CC 195 (47.2) (Oshada Fernando 42, Pulina Tharanga 40, Kasun Vidura 38, Thikshila de Silva 35, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 3/26, Hashen Ramanayake 3/43, Duvindu Tillakaratne 3/54)

BRC 67-5 (23) at close (Deshan Dias 24, Thikshila de Silva 2/7, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/6)  

At P Sara Oval: Colts 256-2 (81) at close (Sadeera Samarawickrama 41, Avishka Fernando 66, Santhush Gunathilaka 60 n.o., Angelo Mathews 80 n.o., Kasun Rajitha 2/65) v Saracens

At SSC: SL Army 236-9 (72) at close (Asela Gunaratne 50, Himasha Liyanage 46, Mahesh Kumara 41, Janith Silva 29, Dilesh Gunaratne 4/35, Chaturanga de Silva 3/82) v NCC

At Katunayake: CCC 353-4 (86) at close (Minod Bhanuka 88, Kusal Mendis 132 n.o., Ashan Priyanjan 58, Wanindu Hasaranga 51 n.o., Binura Fernando 2/35) v Ragama CC

Plate day one scores

At Colts: Moors SC 239-7 (77.1) at close (Dinuka Dilshan 46, Nipun Karunanayake 27, Ramesh Mendis 40, Adeesha Thilanchana 53, Anuk Fernando 20 n.o., Ayana Siriwardhana 37 n.o., Lahiru Samarakoon 4/59, Dushan Hemantha 2/39) v Badureliya SC

At NCC: SSC 242-8 (71) at close (Sandun Weerakkody 35, Charith Asalanka 24, Dasun Shanaka 35, Sachitra Senanayake 81, Akash Senaratne 37, Suranga Lakmal 3/32, Pramod Liyanagamage 2/53) v Tamil Union

At Moratuwa: Lankan CC 270 (68.2) (Lahiru Dilshan 43, Chanaka Ruwansiri 124, Dunith Wellalage 37, Upul Indrasiri 3/79, Lakshitha Rasanjana 5/85)

Negombo CC 64-3 (13) at close (Ashen Silva 30)