Moors SC, Negombo CC fight for Plate title going into final day

 Centurions Nipun Karunanayake (left) and Ramesh Mendis figured in a double century stand to take Moors SC close to the 600-run mark against Lankan CC on the second day of the Premier Plate championship match at NCC grounds yesterday

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Plate table leaders Moors SC had the game against Lankan CC under their control at the end of the second day yesterday. By the close they had captured five Lankan CC wickets for 209 runs after piling up a massive 599-9 declared.

Following a spirited opening partnership of 164 between 22-year-old former Nalanda opener Malinga Amarasinghe who hit a career best 117 off 156 balls (10 fours, 4 sixes) – his second century in 17 first-class matches, and Primosh Perera (65), Lankan CC’s batting lost their way in the middle order and they collapsed to trail Moors SC by a massive 390 runs on the first innings.

Earlier the Moors batting was further boosted by Nipun Karunanayake and Ramesh Mendis, each of whom completed a hundred and shared a fifth wicket stand of 213 after resuming at 410-4. Karunanayake struck 16 fours and 4 sixes in compiling 142 off 184 balls and Mendis hit an entertaining 104 off 101 balls inclusive of 9 fours and 3 sixes. After their departure at 489, the Moors tail wagged vigorously to get them close to the 600-run mark.  

Negombo CC the other team in contention for the Plate title, would be disappointed that they managed only 371 after starting the second day strongly placed at 161-1. Their overnight pair Ashen Silva and skipper Dilshan Munaweera carried the total to 220-1. 

But after their dismissals eight runs of each other the rest of the batting failed to continue the good work and Negombo lost their last five wickets for 67 runs. Both batsmen missed out on their individual hundreds – Silva scoring 90 off 186 balls and Munaweera 85 off 131 balls. Madawa Warnapura also contributed with a stylish 84 off 120 balls but the rest of the batting was consumed by off-spinner Maduka Liyanapathiranage who ended up with figures of 6 for 54.

Tamil Union lost a wicket in their second innings and trail by 142 runs going into the third and final day today. Negombo will certainly look for full points which should give them an outside chance to finish on top of the table if Moors fail to beat Lankan CC outright.

In the clash between the two wooden spoonists SSC held the upperhand over Badureliya CC. At the end of the second day Badureliya CC was 239-6 in reply to SSC’s mammoth 583, still trailing by 344 runs.

Plate Day Two scores

At NCC

Moors SC 599-9 decl. (122.4) (o/n 410-4) (Mohamed Shamaz 81, Sachitra Serasinghe 151, Nipun Karunanayake 142, Ramesh Mendis 104, Ayana Siriwardhana 32, Nimanda Madushanka 35, Kavishka Anjula 37, Malinga Amarasinghe 2/50, Dunith Wellalage 4/143)    

Lankan CC 209-5 (55) at close (Malinga Amarasinghe 117, Primosh Perera 65, Kavishka Anjula 2/39)

At Colts

Tamil Union 184 and 45-1 (23) at close (Yohan Mendis 28 n.o.)

Negombo CC 371 (105) (o/n 161-1) (Ashen Silva 90, Pasindu Lakshana 37, Dilshan Munaweera 85, Madawa Warnapura 84, Pramod Madushan 2/78, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 6/54)

At Moratuwa

SSC 583 (115.1) (o/n 462/4) (Danushka Gunathilaka 47, Sandun Weerakkody 101, Nawanidu Fernando 49, Charith Asalanka 83, Dasun Shanaka 128, Sammu Ashan 75, Krishan Sanjula 32 n.o., Kalana Perera 29, Buddika Sanjeewa 3/144, Asanka Silva 3/97)

Badureliya CC 239-6 (63) at close (Dunith Jayatunga 63, Damith Perera 113, Dushan Hemantha 29, Kalana Perera 2/35, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/69)