Last year’s finalists Tamil Union, Army SC post wins but lag behind

• SLC Major Club 50-over tournament

Janith Liyanage, a fine double of a century and five wickets for Ragama CC

Minod Bhanuka scored 76 off 55 balls in CCC’s win over Moors SC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Last year’s finalists Tamil Union and Army SC both registered victories yesterday, but found themselves still having a lot of work to do to finish within the top two of their respective groups to qualify for a semi-final spot in the SLC Major Club 50-over tournament.

For Tamil Union their three-wicket win over Air Force SC at Katunayake was their first in four matches. Leg-spinner Raveen de Silva with four wickets and Ravindu Fernando with an unbeaten half-century (66 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) saw Tamil Union successfully chase down Air Force SC’s total of 153, after losing the first four wickets for 68.

Army SC pulled off a four-wicket win over Kandy Customs CC at Panagoda with former Sri Lanka spinner Seekkuge Prasanna capturing four wickets to dismiss the opposition for 132 and Shehan Fernando (41* off 92 balls) and Pathum Kumara (47 off 47 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) guiding them to victory.

Negombo CC retained Group A leadership with a seven-wicket thrashing of Police SC at FTZ grounds, Katunayake. In a 45-overs game Police SC managed to score 123-8, a total which Negombo CC surpassed quite easily in the 27th over courtesy a half-century (52 off 50 balls, 6 fours) from Pasindu Lakshanka.

CCC moved to second place behind Negombo CC when they beat Moors SC by two wickets in a closely fought game at Moors grounds. Moors SC was dismissed for 158 in the 45-over contest, but CCC were made to struggle losing eight wickets for 162 despite a rapid 76 off 55 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) by skipper Minod Bhanuka. Spinners Praveen Jayawickrama (3/30) and Sri Lanka U19 cricketer Malsha Tharupathi (4/42) made life difficult for CCC.  

SSC regained top position from Nugegoda SWC in Group B with a convincing 86-run win over Ace Capital CC at the SSC grounds. Skipper Charith Asalanka top scored for SSC in their total of 262 with a delightful knock of 64 off 78 balls (4 fours, 1 six). Ace Capital CC was dismissed for 176 with as many as four bowlers capturing two wickets apiece.

Skipper Irosha Samarasinghe (62 off 109 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and Buddika Hasaranga (59* off 74 balls, 7 fours) fashioned out Galle CC’s first win by five wickets against Sebastianites at the Galle Stadium. Sebastianites scored 204 and Galle CC replied with 207-5.

National cricketer Janith Liyanage produced a fine all-round performance - a run a ball century (126 with 11 fours, 5 sixes) and five wickets to guide Ragama CC to their first win by a thumping margin of 138 runs against Kurunegala YCC at the P Sara Oval. Liyanage figured in a double century stand of 201 with another national cricketer Nishan Madushka (84 off 115 balls, 9 fours) to help Ragama CC post a challenging score of 296-8, and then bowled his medium-paced seamers to good effect to dismiss Kurunegala YCC for 158, finishing with a maiden five-wicket haul (5/29).

Former Sri Lanka white ball cricketer Lahiru Madushanka kept a cool head (41* off 67 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes) to guide Bloomfield to a thrilling two-wicket win over Panadura SC at Bloomfield grounds. In a low scoring contest Panadura SC were dismissed for 130 (Chamath Wickramasinghe 4/19) and Bloomfield replied with 133-8.

NCC without a win in four matches suffered their second defeat going down to Badureliya SC by 15 runs at Maggona. A cultured knock of 69 off 82 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes) from Parvez Rasool saw Badureliya SC score 187. NCC were put out for 172 despite fifties from Kamil Mishara (51 off 57 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) and Ahan Wickramasinghe (52 off 65 balls, 6 fours).