Negombo CC first team through to semi-finals

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Johanne de Zilva of NCC, the leading run scorer with 535 runs

Dilum Sudeera Thilakaratne (Tamil Union) and Kaumal Nanayakkara (Army SC) joint leading wicket-takers with 40 apiece

With a game in hand, Negombo CC is the first team to qualify for a place in the semi-finals of the Major Club Emerging three-day tournament from Group B. Negombo CC’s innings win over Kurunegala YCC last weekend has ensured their position at the top with 64.62 points as second placed NCC (52.8 points) and third placed Chilaw Marians CC (45.02) have completed all their matches.

Negombo CC’s final match is against fourth placed Saracens SC starting tomorrow at Bloomfield and even a loss will not alter their position from the top of Group B. Only the leaders of the four groups qualify for a place in the semi-finals.

Moors SC’s first defeat at the hands of Air Force SC by five wickets, has opened up Group A. Moors SC still retain top position with 67.9 points which is a clear 12.74 points gap against second placed Sebastianites (55.16 points) and 23.86 points over third placed Air Force SC (44.04). 

But what is in favour of both Sebastianites and Air Forces SC is that they have two matches each in hand to catch up with Moors SC who are playing their final match against SSC at Moors grounds tomorrow. For Moors SC to be assured of the group leadership which will ensure them a place in the semi-finals they must try and get the maximum points from SSC.

Sebastianites and Air Force SC in the meanwhile will be fancying their chances against Lankan CC (at Moratuwa) and Navy SC (at Welisara) respectively this weekend. If they manage to win, it will set up an enthralling clash between the two teams the following weekend at Welisara.

Ragama CC (53.87) made their task of heading Group C tougher for themselves when they conceded first innings points to leaders Tamil Union (64.18) in a key clash last weekend. That loss has opened up a 10.31 points gap between the two sides. 

Both teams come out for their final outing tomorrow with Tamil Union hosting Nugegoda SWC at the P Sara Oval and Ragama CC meeting Police SC at Police Park. Tamil Union only need to get first innings points off Nugegoda SWC to retain their top position in the table, while Ragama CC need to win big and hope that Tamil Union lose for them to be with any chance.

Group D leaders Colts (74.0) who had a free weekend, travel to Panagoda in what would be a top of the table clash with Army SC (71.86). Army SC made the most of Colts’ absence last weekend to beat Galle CC outright by 197 runs to cut down the gap between the two sides to a mere 2.4 points. 

For Army SC it will be their final game and they will have to come out with all guns blazing to grab the maximum points to be in with a chance of topping the group. Whereas for Colts, they have a game in hand against Park rivals BRC at Colts grounds the following weekend to compensate for any loss of points they may suffer against Army. 

Johanne de Zilva, the former Josephian captain, has been in top form for NCC continuing to be the leading run scorer in the tournament with 535 runs (avg. 76.42) from five matches. From eight innings he has passed the 50-run mark on six occasions. He has been exceptional for NCC who despite his brilliant efforts, find themselves out of the semi-finals.

20-year-old Avishka Tharindu’s outstanding form with the bat where he notched up two double centuries in three matches for Ragama CC saw him being drafted into the Jaffna team in the National Super League four-day tournament. He is the second highest run-getter after De Zilwa in the Major Club Emerging 3-day tournament with 478 runs. Ragama CC badly felt his absence in their crucial match against Tamil Union last weekend which they lost on first innings.  

Tamil Union’s slow left-arm orthodox spinner Dilum Sudeera Thilakaratne continued to head the bowling with 40 wickets (avg. 10.42). He is joined at the top by another left-arm spinner Army SC’s Kaumal Nanayakkara whose 40 wickets has come at a cost 11.57.

Other matches starting tomorrow are Ace Capital CC v Galle CC at Thurstan and Kandy Customs SC v Kalutara TC at Panadura.