Negombo CC spoil Ace Capital CC’s joy with narrow win

• Major Club Under-23 tournament

Brave hearted bowling effort (8/58) by Ace Capital CC’s Raveen de Silva

Sadisha Rajapaksa took a career best 6/68 for SSC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Ace Capital CC’s joy of winning the Major Club Limited Overs title was short-lived when their Under-23 team was beaten on the first innings by Negombo CC in their Major Club Under-23 fixture played at the Air Force grounds, Katunayake yesterday.

Beginning the second day at 84-5 chasing 189, Negombo CC were indebted to their Captain Mihil Kaveen (66 off 153 balls, 4 fours) and Kavindu Ranasinghe (32) who added a valuable 62 runs for the sixth wicket and the tail for edging them past by a mere four runs despite the valiant attempt by leg-spinner Raveen de Silva to stall them capturing a career best 8/58 off 20.2 overs. Ace Capital CC scored 144-4 in their second innings with Hiran Jayasundara scoring 53* and Sakuna Liyanage 45.

Badureliya SC, Tamil Union and Kurunegala YCC were the other teams to grab first innings points on a day affected by rain where all the matches ended in draws.

Badureliya SC who had already grabbed first innings points on the first day from SSC (131) at SSC grounds continued from their overnight score of 165-6 to total 210 with Shane Wijesinghe contributing 58* off 102 balls (5 fours) and Sadisha Rajapaksa picking up a career best 6/68 with his off breaks. SSC put up a much better display of batting in their second innings scoring 191-4 with half-centuries from Rivitha Jayasuriya (55 off 62 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and skipper Ranuda Somaratne (82* off 98 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes).

Tamil Union had the better of exchanges with NCC at the P Sara Oval, extending their first innings from 233-4 to 276-7 declared with left-arm seamer Sampath Nishshanka grabbing a five-fer (5/79). NCC who were dismissed for 117 in their first innings was once again in trouble against spin in their second essay losing eight wickets for 169 with left-arm spinner Theesan Vithusan taking 5/46.

Half-centuries from Sangeeth Shehara (92 off 152 balls, 10 fours) and Irusha Akash (68 off 119 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) failed to get Police SC past Kurunegala YCC’s total of 306 as they fell short by 40 runs at the Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala.

Bad weather prevented an interesting contest between Kandy Customs SC and Colts at Colts grounds. Replying to Kandy Customs SC total of 319-8, Colts made a bold reply scoring 218-3 with fifties from Shalin de Mel (51 off 38 balls, 10 fours), Githmin Colombage (59 off 129 balls, 6 fours), Sheran Fonseka (52* off 72 balls, 4 fours).

Rain prevented any play on the second day of the matches between Bloomfield (89/3) and CCC at Panagoda, and Panadura SC (267) and Nugegoda SWC (60-1) at Panadura.