National cricketers get into top gear ahead of Zimbabwe series

Avishka Fernando (SSC) and Pathum Nissanka (NCC) scored centuries for their respective clubs 

By Saadi Thawfeeq

National cricketers Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka got into top gear ahead of next month’s white ball series against Zimbabwe hitting a century apiece in a high scoring SLC Major Club 50-over game at the SSC grounds yesterday where SSC got the better of arch rivals NCC by 14 runs on the DLS method.

In the other games that concluded yesterday, last year’s runner-up Army SC, Chilaw Marians CC and Panadura SC recorded victories, while two matches ended in a no-result.

SSC invited to bat first raced away to an imposing 337-7 off 45 overs of which Avishka Fernando hit an attractive 100 off 79 balls (7 sixes, 6 fours) and put together an opening stand of 137 with Nipun Dananjaya (56 off 54 balls, 8 fours). Skipper Charith Asalanka kept the momentum going in the middle overs with a stroke-filled 61 off 48 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes). Dasun Shanaka provided the final flourish to the innings with a power-packed 53* off 26 balls punctuated with six sixes, four of which was hit off the final two overs.

NCC’s run chase was led by Nissanka who hit a brilliant 135 off 96 balls (13 fours, 6 sixes). As long as Nissanka was at the wicket there was hope of NCC reaching their revised target of 263 off 35 overs. But his dismissal at 234 in the 33rd over and the fall of three quick wickets for 14 runs saw them end up 15 runs short on 248-6.

Army SC’s quintet of spinners spun them to a 75-run win over Badureliya SC at the Army grounds, Dombagoda. Army SC scored 214-7 with Dinesh Chandimal making a top score of 49 before retiring hurt. Badureliya SC were wrapped up for 139.

Raminda Wijesooriya hit a career best 89 off 90 balls (9 fours, 1 six) to guide Panadura SC to a close seven-run win on the DLS method against Ace Capital CC at the BRC grounds. Ace Capital CC scored 204 and Panadura SC chasing a revised target of 172 off 40 overs reached 178-7.

Chilaw Marians CC went to the top of Group B when they defeated BRC by 24 runs in a low scoring game at Colts grounds. In a game reduced to 47 overs a side, Chilaw Marians CC were bundled out for 137 in 29.3 overs but hit back strongly to dismiss BRC 113 in 33.3 overs through their spinners.

Defending champions Tamil Union had to be content with a no-result against Negombo CC at the P Sara Oval. A wet outfield saw the contest reduced to 20 overs a side. Tamil Union batting first scored 124-9. In reply Negombo CC were 108-4 off 15.2 overs when rain ended play.

The Nugegoda SWC-Bloomfield match at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa ended in a no-result with rain allowing only five overs to be bowled during which period Bloomfield scored 18-2. – (ST)

TODAY’S MATCHES: Sebastianites v CCC at Moratuwa, Colts v Ragama CC at Colts grounds, Moors SC v Police SC at Moors grounds and Kurunegala YCC v Galle CC at Panadura.