SLC Major League inter-club tournament Group B leaders Tamil Union in dire straits again

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Group B leaders Tamil Union were in dire straits losing six wickets for 92 by the close replying to Army SC’s first innings of 212 at P.Sara Oval on the opening day of the SLC Major League inter-club tournament matches yesterday. 

Tamil Union pacies Shiran Fernando and Kavindu Pathiratne took seven wickets between them to dismiss the soldiers for a moderate total, but found themselves in deep trouble with only opener Navod Paranavithana contributing a fifty off 62 balls (8 fours). With four wickets in hand they trail Army by 120 runs in the first innings.

Group A frontrunner CCC placed themselves in a strong position to grab full points at CCC grounds. They bowled out Sebastianites for 151 with left-arm spinner Sonal Dinsusha taking 5/22 and ambidextrous spinner Kamindu Mendis 3/27, and by stumps had reached 128-2 with Minod Bhanuka 60* (8 fours, 1 six) and Mendis 47* (6 fours) involved in a unfinished stand of 109.       

Former Sri Lanka U-19 skipper Nipun Dananjaya scored a career best 173* (245 balls, 18 fours) to steer SSC to a powerful position at 292-3 against Colts at SSC grounds. Dananjaya and Sri Lanka Test batter Roshen Silva 65* (3 fours, 1 six) have so far added 167 for the fourth wicket.

Dinesh Thimodya 93 (10 fours, 1 six) and Nishan Madushka 64 (3 fours) struck half-centuries for Ragama CC to end the first day on 290-5 against Lankan CC at Thurstan grounds.

The Moors SC-BRC match was nicely poised at Moors grounds. Moors SC did well to dismiss BRC for 231 and by stumps had replied with 46-0 to trail by 185 runs. Fast bowler Milan Ratnayake and skipper Ramesh Mendis shared six wickets between them.  

Badureliya SC recovered from losing their first three wickets for 49 to post a first day total of 282-4 against Chilaw Marians CC at Maggona. Captain Alanka Asanka scored his fifth first-class century (127 off 219 balls, 16 fours, 1 six) and shared a fourth wicket stand of 205 with Anuk Fernando (92* off 175 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) to lift their side towards an imposing first innings total.

Panadura SC posted the highest total of the day –376-7 against Navy SC at Welisara. Pawan de Silva 50 (10 fours), Shanuka Dulaj 86 (6 fours, 1 six), Abishek Gupta 61 (3 fours, 3 sixes) and Nimesh Vimukthi 58* (6 fours, 2 sixes) were the principal scorers.

Air Force SC batted doggedly to score 235-7 off 87 overs on the first day against Bloomfield at Bloomfield grounds.

Captain Sameen Kandanearachchi scored a century (123 off 140 balls, 16 fours, 5 sixes) for Galle CC and left-arm spinner Sakidu Wijeratne took 6/46 for Kurunegala YCC as Galle CC was dismissed for 239 at Galle. By stumps Kurunegala YCC had scored 30-0.   

Leg-spinner Sachitra Perera took 6/18 off 13.2 overs to dismiss Kalutara TC for 142 at Dombagoda. By the close Kandy Customs SC spurred on by an unbeaten 53 (6 fours) from Imesh Udayanga were well placed to gain first innings points at 115-2.

Left-hander Rumesh Buddika’s 17th first-class hundred (109 off 179 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) saw Nugegoda SWC finish on 252-5 against NCC at NCC grounds.

Fifties from Sithara Gimhan 61 (8 fours, 1six), Dushan Vimukthi 60 (6 fours, 2 sixes) and Nipun Karunanayake 74 (12 fours) enabled Saracens SC total 235 after being invited to bat first by Negombo CC at BRC grounds. By stumps Negombo CC had replied with 23-1.