Kusal Mendis warms up for Test series with century for SSC

Kusal Mendis celebrates his century for SSC

Chanaka Ruwansiri took a career best 8/37 for Badureliya SC v Ragama CC

 Mohamed Shiraz dismantled Kandy Customs SC’s batting, taking 5/37 

• Kamindu Mendis injures webbing in hand
• SLC Major Club 3-Day Tournament

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

While experienced hands Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Angelo Mathews failed to cash in on the final weekend of the SLC Major Club 3-Day matches before the Test squad goes into training at Galle in preparation for the two-Test series against Australia, Kusal Mendis, playing his first red-ball match after arriving from a white-ball tour of New Zealand, warmed up for the series with a quality century for SSC against CCC on the first day at the SSC Ground yesterday.

Mendis, who came to the wicket with SSC tottering at 60-4, did not take long to switch from white to red-ball cricket and soon took control of the innings, smashing 11 fours as he raced to his century off 109 balls. He stitched valuable partnerships of 84 with Nuwanidu Fernando (40) and 116 with Sri Lanka white-ball all-rounder Chamidu Wickramasinghe (59* off 129 balls, 4 fours) for SSC, who won the toss and batted to end the first day on 304-7. 

Mendis got his runs against a quality Sri Lankan Test bowling attack comprising the two new ball bowlers, Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando, and left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan. Asitha and Vishwa took two wickets each, including the wickets of Kusal Mendis for 123 and Dimuth Karunaratne for 7. During the match, Kamindu Mendis of CCC split the webbing between his fingers in attempting to take a catch offered by Sadisha Rajapaksa at second slip, and is under scrutiny with the first Test against Australia 12 days away.

Two other national cricketers, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, could not make much headway in their match for Colts against Panadura SC at the Panadura esplanade. 

Chandimal was dismissed for 28 and Mathews for 2, both falling to the left-arm spin of Nimesh Vimukthi, who ended up with figures of 6/104. Colts, who were invited to bat first, made 345 riding on the back of a century by Dhananjaya Lakshan (104 off 129 balls, 10 fours, 4 sixes) and fifties from Sheran Fonseka (63) and Kavishka Anjula (57). Panadura SC replied with 69 without loss, of which Test opener Oshada Fernando contributed 50* off 32 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes). 

Badureliya SC and BRC both grabbed first innings points in their fixtures played at Maggona and the BRC grounds. 

Chanaka Ruwansiri, representing Badureliya SC this season, returned career best figures of 8/37 off 11.1 overs to dismiss Ragama CC for 122. The 35-year-old veteran all-rounder, who turned up for Sri Lanka Air Force SC last season and has vast experience of playing league cricket in England behind him, spun his off-breaks with deadly venom to have the Ragama CC batsmen all at sea, as they were bowled out in a matter of 28.1 overs. By stumps, Badureliya SC had overhauled Ragama CC’s total and were strongly placed at 231-4, a lead of 109 with Geeth Kumara contributing 64*. 

In the bottom of the Group B table clash at BRC grounds, host BRC held the upper hand against Kandy Customs CC. 

Kandy Customs CC were bowled out for 131, with Sri Lanka’s white-ball fast bowler Mohamed Shiraz causing most of the damage with figures of 5/37. BRC had already gained a first innings lead of 82 by the close reply with 213-9.

Group A table leaders and defending joint champions Police SC faced stiff resistance from Negombo CC who ended day one at Police Park on 266-5, with the main contributions coming from a stand of 133 for the fourth wicket between Himasha Liyanage (65 off 188 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) and Milinda Siriwardana (83 off 120 balls, 9 fours, 1 six). The tournament’s leading wicket-taker, left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera, took 4/87.

Tamil Union did well to dismiss high riding Kurunegala YCC for 222 (Rashmika Madushanka 56) at the P. Sara Oval. By close, Tamil Union were 31-1.

The commencement of two matches has been postponed by a day or two. The Moors SC-Nugegoda SWC game at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, will begin today, and the match between Bloomfield and Chilaw Marians CC at Bloomfield Ground on Sunday.