Moors SC secures second successive win

Sri Lanka Test fast bowler Vishwa Fernando bowled CCC to an innings win with five Kalutara TC wickets in the second innings 

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sukitha Manoj celebrates his maiden first-class century for Kalutara TC

Dilum Sudeera Thilakaratne took his maiden five-fer in Tamil Union’s innings win

Moors SC led by Sri Lanka Test cap Ramesh Mendis secured their second outright win of the ongoing SLC Major League Inter-Club tournament in successive weekends when they beat Police SC by 193 runs at Police Park yesterday. Requiring 327 to win, Police SC collapsed for 133 falling to the left-arm spin of Chanuka Dilshan and Theeshan Vithusan who took 11 wickets between them in the match.   

Six clubs recorded outright wins and took full points out of the 12 matches played over the weekend.

Sri Lanka Test fast bowler Vishwa Fernando produced a blistering spell of left-arm fast bowling to help defending champions CCC trounce Kalutara TC by an innings and 62 runs at the CCC grounds. 

Forced to follow-on by a massive 312 runs, Police SC somewhat fared better than their first innings total of 142 to make 250 courtesy of a maiden century in his second first-class match by former St Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa cricketer Sukitha Manoj – 137 off 160 balls, 12 fours, eight sixes. But his effort proved insufficient to stop CCC from recording a crushing win with Fernando taking five wickets in the second innings and left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara seven in the match.

Tamil Union’s left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera Thilakaratne took his maiden five-fer in an innings (5/52) to bowl his club to an innings and 11 runs win over Badureliya SC at Surrey Village, Maggona. Tamil Union took a first innings lead of 166 thanks to centuries from skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama – 172 (his 10th first class hundred) and Santhush Gunathilaka (110). Badureliya SC fell short by 11 runs to make Tamil Union bat again when they were dismissed for 155.

Kandy Customs SC skipper Chanaka Wijesinghe’s century – 103 off 161 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes) proved in vain when BRC beat them by an innings and 38 runs at the BRC grounds. BRC’s win was set up by opener Dilan Jayalath who scored his maiden first-class century – 203* off 353 balls (20 fours) that enabled them to total 446-4 declared and terminate Kandy Customs for totals of 113 and 295.

Ace Capital CC captained by Sri Lanka cricketer Oshada Fernando bounced back from their first innings defeat at the hands of Saracens SC last weekend to grab full points by beating Negombo CC by 134 runs at BOI, Katunayake. After conceding a first innings lead of eight runs Ace Capital fought back to score 302-8 in their second innings mainly through a century from opener Lasith Croospulle. Left with a target of 295 to chase, Negombo CC collapsed for 160.

Colts were denied their second successive win when Galle CC held out to force a draw after following-on at Colts grounds. In reply to Colts’ total of 463-5 declared, Galle CC were dismissed for 173 in their first innings with Sri Lanka U19 World Cup captain Dunith Wellalage taking four wickets with his left-arm spin. Trailing by 290 runs Galle CC held out in their second innings with their last pair Sandaken Pathirana (10*) and Mihiranga Silva (5*) batting for nearly ten overs to finish on 221-9.

Lankan CC came up with a staunch batting performance in their second innings to draw with SSC at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Shot out for 136 in their first innings and asked to follow-on 382 runs in arrears, Lankan CC replied with 352-7. Deshan Dias (114 off 184 balls, 11 fours) and Lakruwan Abeyrathne (145* off 216 balls, 16 fours, 1 six) scored centuries and figured in a 180-run fifth wicket stand to frustrate SSC who had to be content with first innings points.  

NCC and Air Force SC played out a tame draw at NCC grounds with the host club taking first innings points by dismissing the Airmen for 259 in reply to their first innings of 307. NCC made 304-9 in their second innings with Asel Sigera completing twin fifties in the match (74 and 69).

A maiden first-class hundred from wicket-keeper/batsman Pathum Dilshan (102* off 205 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) enabled Nugegoda SWC to draw their match against Chilaw Marians CC after being forced to follow-on 234 runs behind on the first innings at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa. Nugegoda SWC who were dismissed for 185 in the first innings finished on 185-2 in their second. Chilaw Marians took first innings points.

Sebastianites bowled out for 193 in their first innings by left-arm spinner Shashika Dulshan (6/70) and forced to follow-on by a huge deficit of 398 held out for a draw scoring 159-2 in their second innings to deny Ragama CC an outright win. Despite making a massive total of 591-3 declared courtesy of Nishan Madushka’s undefeated triple century, Ragama CC had to be satisfied with only first innings points.

Army SC’s prolific wicket-taker left-arm spinner Kaumal Nanayakkara took his third five-fer in as many innings (6/90) to bowl his team to a first innings win against Panadura SC at Dombagoda. Panadura SC replying to Army SC’s first innings of 452-4 declared were all out for 297. Army SC were 108 without loss in their second innings.  

On Saturday, Saracens SC completed a two-day win over Bloomfield by eight wickets at Bloomfield grounds with fast bowler Isitha Wijesudera taking his maiden 10-wicket match haul – 10 for 83 with four wickets in the second innings following his six in the first.