Negombo CC shock Moors SC

Chamod Sandaru’s century enabled Chilaw Marians CC beat Kandy Customs CC

Ace Capital CC spinner Thanuka Dabare returned his maiden five-fer in one-day cricket

Ranesh Silva scored his maiden one-day century but could not help Badureliya SC win

• SLC Major Club 50-over tournament

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

On the opening day of the SLC Major Club 50-over tournament on Wednesday, Negombo CC pulled off an upset win over Moors SC, while there were wins for SSC, CCC, Colts, Sebastianites, Bloomfield, Chilaw Marians CC and Nugegoda SWC. Two matches ended in a no-result without a ball bowled. 

Spinners Upul Indrasiri (3/8) and Nishan Peiris (4/5) bowled Negombo CC to a shock eight-wicket win over Moors SC at Moors grounds. In a game reduced to 45 overs, Moors SC invited to bat first were bundled out for 62. Negombo CC knocked the required runs off in 15.3 overs losing two wickets.

Police SC with their full complement of national players suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Sebastianites at Police grounds. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Police SC were bundled out for 137 by spinners Tharindu Ratnayake (3/27), Chamika Edirisinghe (2/28) and Promod Maduwantha (3/16). Sebastianites reached their target in 38 overs with 30s from Abishek Liyanaarachchi, Lohan de Zoysa and Dushan Vimukthi.

Sri Lanka white ball leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay took 4/40 supported by spinners Asitha Wanninayake (3/26) and Sahan Nanayakkara (3/31) to enable Bloomfield beat BRC by four wickets at BRC grounds. BRC were bowled out for 145 in 33 overs in a game reduced to 38 overs a side. Bloomfield knocked the runs off 33.3 overs with contributions of 36 from Hasitha Boyagoda, 39 from skipper Nipun Karunanayake and 31* from Lahiru Madushanka.

Chilaw Marians CC scored a 20-run win on the DLS method over Kandy Customs CC at Surrey Village grounds, Maggona. A maiden one-day century from former Piliyandala Central cricketer Chamod Sandaru (101 off 109 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) and his 173 runs partnership with Raveen Yasas (86 off 79 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) saw Chilaw Marians CC reach an imposing 307-9. Seamer Kasun Madushanka was the pick of the Kandy Customs bowlers taking 4/43. Kandy Customs CC target was revised to 199 off 35 overs but they fell short by 21 runs scoring 178-4 despite fifties from Imal Liyanage (87 off 84 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) and Deshan Dias (52 off 82 balls, 3 fours).  

A fine all-round bowling performance by Nugegoda SWC bowlers saw them beat Ace Capital CC by 81 runs at Air Force grounds, Katunayake. Ace Capital CC were bowled out for 142 in reply to Nugegoda SWC’s total of 223 of which Rumesh Buddhika made a top score of 75 off 96 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) and part time spinner Thanuka Dabare returned his maiden five-fer (5/18).

Former Thurstanite Ranesh Silva’s maiden one-day century (113 off 128 balls, 12 fours, 1 six) proved in vain as Badureliya SC lost to SSC by 14 runs at the SSC grounds. The star-studded SSC with seven national caps were dismissed for 267 with Avishka Fernando (56 off 71 balls, 7 fours), Krishan Sanjula (57 off 90 balls, 3 fours) and Nuwanidu Fernando (77 off 70 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) scoring fifties and Indian-born all-rounder Parvez Rasool returning career best one-day figures of 6/45 for Badureliya SC. Kasun Rajitha, Kalana Perera and Prabath Jayasuriya with eight wickets amongst them ensured that Badureliya SC’s innings was terminated at 253.

In a low scoring contest at Welagedera Stadium, CCC beat Kurunegala YCC by 17 runs on the DLS method. CCC scored 154 in a game reduced to 23 overs. Kurunegala YCC’s target was reset to 130 off 20 overs, but were restricted to 112-5 by left-arm spinner Chaturanga de Silva (3/22).

Colts pulled off an exciting 4-run win on the DLS method over Galle CC at Colts grounds. In a 36-over match Galle CC boosted by fifties from Oshada Fernando (56 off 57 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and captain Irosh Samarasooriya (68 off 89 balls, 7 fours) scored 188-9. Colts chasing a target of 148 off 29 overs reached 151-6 to edge out Galle CC when bad light ended play. Sangeeth Cooray made 61* off 70 balls (3 fours, 1 six).

The match between Ragama CC and Air Force SC at Bloomfield grounds, and the one between NCC and Panadura SC at Panadura were abandoned without a ball bowled due to wet ground conditions.