Sadeera rides luck to score career best 188

Tamil Union captain Sadeera Samarawickrama celebrates his 12th first-class 100 against CCC

 CCC fast bowler Vishwa Fernando took two wickets including that of Samarawickrama

• Tamil Union end day one of SLC Major League final on 356-5

Tamil Union captain Sadeera Samarawickrama rode his luck when he was dropped before he had scored to make a career best 188 and steer his team to a first day total of 356-5 by the close in the SLC Major League inter-club four-day final against defending champions CCC at the SSC grounds yesterday.

CCC were left to rue the catch offered by Samarawickrama in the second over off Sri Lanka left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando’s fifth ball which was spilt at second slip by Malinda Pushpakumara. Seizing on that missed opportunity Samarawickrama made capital use of it to contribute more than half his side’s total hitting 18 fours and one six in his 243-ball knock.  

Tamil Union seemed headed for a massive first innings total, but two late wickets in the final session by CCC left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan checked their dominance before bad light brought forward an early close with four overs remaining. Tamil Union could still finish on a testing total, but it should not be less than 500 as CCC too possess a strong batting unit to challenge whatever score that is in front of them.

On a firm batting strip, Tamil Union made the right choice after winning the toss to take first lease of the surface. They ended the first session at 110-1 losing the wicket of Navod Paranavithana in the penultimate over before lunch for 54. Fernando enticed Paranavithana to give a catch to Nimesha Gunasinghe at mid-on after having struck four fours in his 70-ball innings.   

Ron Chandraguptha joined his captain and together they carried the total to 228-1 at tea with Samarawickrama reaching his 12th first-class century off 147 balls with eight fours and one six. The pair added 130 for the second wicket before Chandraguptha fell to the left-arm spin of Pushpakumara offering a catch to Kamindu Mendis at mid-on after scoring a well compiled 47 off 98 balls (6 fours).

With Samarawickrama imposing himself on the CCC bowling by moving to his 150 off 208 balls (14 fours, 1 six) the Tamil Union score of 273-2 assumed threatening proportions. However the re-introduction of Sandakan into the attack in the 70th over brought forth quick results. He had Santhush Gunathilaka edging a catch behind the wicket to Minod Bhanuka for 15 and eight overs later forced Kamlesh Nirmal (16) to edge a catch to Pushpakumara at slips.

CCC ended the day somewhat on a satisfactory note when Fernando returning for one final spell eventually dismissed Samarawickrama, finding the outside edge of his bat to Bhanuka. Dilum Sudeera and Ravindu Fernando saw the day out for Tamil Union.

Fernando and Lakshan with two wickets apiece were CCC’s most successful bowlers. The match continues on its second day today.

Scores: Tamil Union 356-5 at close (Navod Paranavithana 54, Sadeera Samarawickrama 188, Ron Chandraguptha 48, Vishwa Fernando 2/77, Lakshan Sandakan 2/47) v CCC. (ST)