Police SC marooned by bad weather at Hambantota, SSC makes progress

• SLC Major 3-day league tournament 

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Police SC found themselves in dire straits when the opening day of their match against Kurunegala YCC at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium in Hambantota was washed out without a ball bowled due to rain. Police SC who head Group B need at least a first innings win to ensure they retain top position to qualify for the 4-day final. Originally, the match was scheduled to be played on their home turf at Police Park, but due to the tournament matches getting postponed due to inclement weather and other extraneous factors, the ground became unavailable as Police SC are now using it to play their opening match of a new rugby league season against Navy SC today.

In the meanwhile, second placed NCC who are pursuing Police SC for the top position from Group B and need an outright win against Bloomfield to have any chance of toppling the leaders, made a promising start at Bloomfield grounds posting a first day total of 277-7 in 66.2 overs before bad light and rain ended play. NCC’s young brigade of Kamil Mishara (90 off 152 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes), Kavin Bandara (55 off 72 balls, 8 fours) and Sahan Arachchige (70* off 103 balls, 6 fours) all made impressive contributions to the total.

A depleted SSC side sans four of their regular players who away in Abu Dhabi for the T10 franchise had BRC struggling at 162-6 at the SSC grounds before rain at the tea break ended play for the day. Dulash Udayanga made a top score of 68 off 130 balls (9 fours) for BRC. SSC with a 14-point lead over their closest rivals Colts require only a first innings win to retain their top position in Group A and qualify for the final.

Colts in the meanwhile did well to dismiss Ragama CC for 231 at Maggona and reply with 57-1 before bad light ended play. Former Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya opening the bowling reeled off 27.4 overs to capture 6 wickets for 100 runs.

Of the teams fighting to avoid relegation to Tier B, Sebastianites did well to bowl Moors SC for 175 and reply with 71-3 by the close at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa with rain causing an early end to the day. Spinners Tharindu Ratnayake (5/49) and Chamika Edirisinghe (3/61) troubled the Moors SC batsmen with only Mohammed Shamaz (91 off 126 balls, 9 fours) and Praveen Jayawickrama (46 off 119 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) making career best scores, putting up any kind of resistance.

Galle CC made a bold start to lift themselves from the bottom of Group A by posting a first day total of 310-7 against Nugegoda SWC at the Galle Stadium before bad light ended play. After Iresh Samarasooriya (84 off 143 balls, 7 fours) and Shalith Fernando (65 off 82 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) had contributed from the top, Pasindu Madushan (33*) and Sachitra Perera (45*) indulged in an unbroken stand of 69 to carry them past the 300-run mark. Left-arm spinner Sandun Madushanka was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets.

Ninth placed Panadura SC had a tough day on the field against CCC at Pallekele. They invited CCC to bat first and saw them end the day strongly on 274-4 courtesy fifties from Minod Bhanuka (73 off 105 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes), and Kamindu Mendis (84* off 162 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) and Captain Ashan Priyanjan (53* off 87 balls, 3 sixes) who have so far added 109 for the fifth wicket.

Eighth-placed Army SC had only 27 overs of cricket at FTZ grounds, Katunayake during which period they lost three wickets for 53 against Negombo CC.

At Welisara, Ace Capitals CC gained first innings points against Chilaw Marians CC on the second day’s play. Former Sri Lanka Under-19 all-rounder Wanuja Sahan was the star of Ace Capitals CC making a top score of 62 (off 82 balls, 5 fours) in Ace Capital’s first innings of 272 and then capturing 5/56 with his left-arm spin to dismiss Chilaw Marians CC for 188 (Raveen Yasas 61). By stumps Ace Capitals were 78-5 – a lead of 162 going into the third and final day today.

Indian-born all-rounder Parvez Rasool (72* off 80 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) and Ayana Siriwardhana, a run a ball 32* (5 fours, 1 six) shared an unfinished stand of 63 to help Badureliya SC to 195-6 before rain ended play against Tamil Union at P Sara Oval.