SSC wins, but not out of the woods

Charith Asalanka kept SSC’s hopes alive with a splendid all-round performance

Inuka Karannagoda took 11/98 on his first-class debut for CCC

Ashian Daniel took 10/128 to keep NCC on top

• SLC Major Club 3-Day Tournament

Sri Lanka’s white-ball Captain Charith Asalanka, leading SSC in the absence of regular Captain Prabath Jayasuriya, produced a brilliant all-round performance (128 and career best match bag of 10/205) to give his club their first win of the season against Tamil Union in the SLC Major Club 3-Day match played at the SSC Ground yesterday.

SSC ran up a massive first innings total of 533-7 declared (courtesy centuries from Shevon Daniel 142, Asalanka 128, and Nuwanidu Fernando 110) in reply to Tamil Union’s 320 and bowled the opposition out a second time for 203, to win by an innings and 10 runs and pick up full points. Sandun Weerakkody hit a brilliant 127 off 132 balls (15 fours, 1 six) but the rest of the batsmen could make no impression against the off-spin of Asalanka (4/93) and Nipun Dananjaya (3/13). SSC, who has one more game against NCC, are still not yet out of the woods as they still lie second from the bottom of Group B. 

SSC’s fight is with Nugegoda SWC, who are third from the bottom and hold not only a two-point lead but also have two games in hand. They won in the first innings against Kandy Customs CC at Hambantota, dismissing them for 279 in reply to their score of 365, with skipper Tillakaratne Sampath leading the way with 5/94 off 40 overs. In their second innings, Nugegoda SWC piled up batting points scoring 327-5, with Roshan Wijenayake scoring 103* off 141 balls (8 fours, 1 six), and Kevin Perera (63) and Lakshan Gamage (50) fifties apiece.  

In the Group B top of the table clash, NCC beat Moors SC by an innings and 68 runs at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, to open up a 23-point lead. In reply to Moors SC’s first innings of 256, NCC closed at 498-8 declared after Sahan Arachchige had become the second centurion of the innings (100* off 136 balls, 5 fours) after Lahiru Udara (206). Trailing by 242 runs, Moors SC were dismissed for 174, with off-spinner Ashian Daniel taking 6/67 (match bag of 10/128). Moors SC’s Acting Captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara followed his first innings’ 106* with another steadfast knock of 69*.

Colts regained Group A leadership from Bloomfield with a 79-run win against Police SC at Police grounds. Police SC were left with a target of 295 to chase after Colts were dismissed in their second innings for 232, where off-spinners Nalin Priyadarshana and Nadeera Balasooriya shared eight wickets. Police SC were all out for 215, with spinners Akila Dananjaya (5/55) and Muditha Lakshan (match bag of 9/102) being the chief destroyers.

Ace Capital CC held onto a draw to deny Bloomfield a win with full points at Welisara. Bloomfield eventually had to settle for first innings points. Having gained a first innings lead of 146, Bloomfield declared at 255-9, leaving Ace Capital CC a stiff target of 402 to chase. They closed on 265-7, with skipper Thanuka Dabare missing out on a century by three runs (97 off 80 balls, 5 fours, 7 sixes). 

Negombo CC, another club fighting hard to avoid relegation from Group A, secured their first win of the season beating Panadura SC by 216 runs at the BOI Ground, Katunayake. A century from Negombo CC Captain Angelo Jayasinghe (113 off 155 balls, 13 fours) enabled them to declare their second innings at 319-8 and leave Panadura SC a tall target of 424 which they were unable to achieve, being dismissed for 207.

Chilaw Marians CC suffered a setback in their bid to avoid relegation from Group B when they lost to Badureliya SC by six wickets at Maggona. Chilaw Marians CC (131) managed 179 in their second innings, leaving Badureliya SC (259) a target of 52 to chase. They lost four wickets getting there.  

CCC bounced back after their high scoring first innings loss to NCC last weekend to thrash Kurunegala YCC by 200 runs at CCC grounds. Having obtained a first innings lead of 69, CCC were all out for 289 in their second innings (Nishan Madushka 112). A target of 359 proved too big for Kurunegala YCC, who were dismissed for 158. Inuka Karannagoda, the former Mahanama College all-rounder, made a memorable first-class debut, taking 6/68 and 5/30 (match bag of 11/98) with his left-arm spin. – [ST]