Last weekend’s defeats spice-up SLC Major League

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The defeats suffered by Tamil Union, and Army SC from Group B and by Moors SC and Ragama CC from Group A has somewhat opened up the contest in both groups of the SLC Major League Inter-Club tournament which enters its eighth weekend with another full card of 12 matches.

Group A leaders CCC and Group B leaders Tamil Union hold onto leads of 23.775 and 21.300 points respectively over their nearest rivals Chilaw Marians CC and SSC, which makes the matches commencing today a hotly contested affair with every point gained becoming crucial in the race to head the group.

By pulling off a stunning win over Tamil Union, Chilaw Marians CC have put themselves as hot contenders to take over the Group B leadership from Tamil Union provided they keep the momentum they gained from last weekend going till the end of the group matches. 

Chilaw Marians CC (78.460) take on fifth placed Badureliya SC at the R. Premadasa Stadium, while Tamil Union (99.760) playing on home soil at P. Sara Oval will be looking to compensate for last weekend’s loss when they meet fourth placed Army SC (68.320). Third placed NCC (74.295) gradually getting into their groove will look to gain full points from tenth placed Nugegoda SWC (39.050) at the NCC grounds.

Defending champions CCC’s inability to gain full points from tenth placed Kurunegala YCC last weekend despite forcing the follow-on have enabled SSC to creep into the second slot and become CCC’s new rivals for the top Group A position. While CCC (101.295) play host to seventh placed Sebastianites (51.700) at CCC grounds, SSC (77.620) clash with fourth placed Colts (73.520) at the SSC in what should turn out to be key game as only four points separate the two clubs.

Third placed Moors SC (75.905) still with a game in hand, will look to grab full points by hosting sixth placed BRC (63.500) at the Moors grounds. Ragama CC (65.870) who promised so much with the tournament’s leading run-getter Nishan Madushka (the quickest to score 1,000 runs in a season in nine innings) in their ranks have faltered in their past three matches and will look to obtaining maximum points from Lankan CC (33.440) who are second from the bottom of Group A when they meet at Thurstan College grounds.

Following their maiden win of the season against Navy SC at Welisara last weekend, Bloomfield (31.540) will look to lift themselves from the second bottom of the Group B table when they play host at Bloomfield grounds to an Air Force SC side (45.345) that was thrashed by an innings by Ace Capital CC.

The other matches commencing today are: Galle CC v Kurunegala YCC at Galle, Kalutara TC v Kandy Customs SC at Dombagoda, Navy SC v Panadura SC at Welisara and Saracens SC v Negombo CC at BRC grounds.