Sunday Jan 26, 2025
Sunday Jan 26, 2025
Friday, 10 January 2025 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The SLC Major Club 3-day tournament enters its third week today with Ace Capital CC (Group A) and NCC (Group B) as the front-runners of their respective groups, each having won two out of two matches.
In a card of seven matches starting today, they come out for the third time this season. Ace Capital CC have a tough game on their hands as they play second placed Colts at the Colts grounds. Colts have been in fine fettle topping 300 runs in their two matches played so far, but in Ace Capital CC’s favour is that they have a quality side that excels when the chips are down as they showed in their opening match of the season against Badureliya SC. The manner in which they followed that win with a thrashing of Ragama CC by 116 runs makes them strong contenders.
NCC in fact have an easy task of beating Tamil Union at the P. Sara Oval. Tamil Union have not been at their best so far losing both their matches to be in an unusual position for them – second from the bottom of Group B. NCC on the other hand have been gelling well with wins against Kandy Customs CC and BRC.
Defending joint champions SSC is another team that needs to pick itself up from their present position of third from the bottom of Group B having lost to Kurunegala YCC and Nugegoda SWC. Their game against Kandy Customs CC commences a day later tomorrow at Thurstan grounds. Kandy Customs are also without a win this season so it could turn out to be a keen tussle for honours.
Police SC, the other joint champions who trail behind Ace Capital CC and Colts, have a good chance of grabbing full points from Badureliya SC at Maggona. Badureliya SC have not been at their best losing to Ace Capital CC and to Panadura SC.
Kurunegala YCC who have started the season off well with wins against SSC and Kandy Customs CC, have a great chance of moving to the top of the Group A table when they play host to bottom of the table BRC at their stronghold, the Welagedara Stadium.
Ragama CC with two losses from two games travel to Panadura in the hope of breaking their winless trail against Panadura SC who bounced back after losing their opening match to Police SC to beat Badureliya SC last weekend.
CCC who had a free weekend play Nugegoda SWC in their first game on their home ground at CCC this season. CCC had to play most of their matches outside last season as the ground underwent a major rehaul with the relaying of the underwater drainage system, the construction of an electronic scoreboard, fitting of floodlights and an upgrade of the media box, pavilion and dressing rooms. CCC won their opening fixture against Tamil Union taking full points and will look to repeat that success against Nugegoda SWC who edged out SSC by four runs in the first innings last weekend.
Chilaw Marians CC and Negombo CC meet at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota. Both teams will be looking for their first win of the season having lost their opening matches.
