SSC-Ragama CC game takes top billing

Ragama CC’s spinner Shashika Dulshan performed the hat-trick against Panadura SC

Ashen Bandara, a rare feat of a century in each innings (112 & 100) for Police SC

Major Club 3-day League - 10 matches commence today

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The Major Club 3-day League continues in its third weekend with Colts, SSC and Moors SC being the only three teams to garner maximum points from their two matches played so far.

With the rains showing signs of receding these three pace-setters will be looking to maximise their points at the top of the table when a full card of ten matches commences today.

The SSC v Ragama CC game at the SSC grounds takes top billing with both teams along with Colts in the fray to finish on top of Group A. It is still early days to predict which of the 22 teams contesting will end up as leaders of Group A and Group B to qualify to play in the final. Nevertheless, SSC, Colts and Moors SC – the present leaders of Group B have wasted no time in securing points and try and widen the gap between their group rivals. It will be an interesting tussle when SSC who are second and Ragama CC third in Group A take on each other. Only six points separate the two clubs after two matches and any points at this stage will be warmly welcomed by either opponent.

It will be a good contest between Ragama CC’s left-arm spinner Shashika Dulshan and SSC’s powerful batting line up having notched up totals in excess of 400 in each of their two encounters played so far. Last weekend Dulshan grabbed the limelight with a hat-trick against Panadura SC on his way to figures of 5/86. Dulshan wrapped up Panadura SC’s batting by taking the last three wickets off successive deliveries.

Group A table leaders Colts have a good chance to further consolidate their position when they host Panadura SC at Colts grounds. Panadura SC who are eighth in the standings have lost both their matches in the first innings. Colts’ has been inspired by the batting of former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews and the bowling of their captain former Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya. Mathews has scored back-to-back centuries in his first two games and is the leading run-getter with 296 runs at an average of 148. Not far behind Mathews is the extremely talented cricketer from SSC Shevon Daniel who made the first double-hundred of the season with 209 against Negombo CC last weekend, which was also his maiden first-class century. Daniel aggregates 292 for an average of 146. Dananjaya’s unorthodox spin has brought him a rich haul of 24 wickets from two matches for a miserly average of 11.70 including the best bowling figures in an innings of 8/61 against Kandy Customs CC. In fact, spinners have dominated the tournament so far with the top nine places in the bowling occupied by them.  

Defending champions CCC after their narrow escape from defeat against Nugegoda SWC will want to stamp their authority in the tournament. They have a great opportunity of doing so when they play hosts to wooden spoonists Galle CC at CCC grounds.

Moor SC are in pole position in Group B following two straight wins and hold a six points lead over second placed Chilaw Marians CC. They have a good chance to extend that lead when they meet Bloomfield, who are second from the bottom of the table, at Moors SC grounds. Chilaw Marians CC have Badureliya CC to contend with at Surrey Village grounds in Maggona.    

However, the main match in the group is between third placed Ace Capital CC and fourth placed NCC at BOI grounds, Katunayake with barely one point separating the two clubs. Ace Capitals CC have won their first two games on first innings, whereas NCC who took full points from Sebastianites in the opening weekend, suffered a shock loss against Police SC conceding first innings points in a drawn game.

Last year’s losing finalists Tamil Union could not make much headway in their opening match of the season against Kurunegala YCC managing to grab only first innings points due to rain. They will be keen on adding more points to their basket when they meet Police SC at Police Park. But Police SC who are led by former Sri Lanka white ball skipper Kusal Perera are not going to be easy-beats as they showed last week by taking first innings points off NCC with another national white ball cricketer Ashen Bandara renowned for his electric fielding abilities, having the rare honour of scoring a century in innings (112 & 100).

Nugegoda SWC v Kandy Customs CC at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, Army SC v BRC at Panagoda and Kurunegala YCC v Air Force SC at Welagedera Stadium, Kurunegala are the other matches commencing today.