Sebastianites begin quest for semi-final spot on positive note

Shalin de Mel and Avishka Perera put on a mammoth first wicket partnership of 326 for Colts against BRC

In the key match for the fourth semi-final spot, Sebastianites have begun the opening day of their Major Club Emerging three-day tournament on a positive note by dismissing Navy SC for 126 and then gaining the vital first innings lead by scoring 160-8 by the close in reply at Welisara yesterday.

Colts who have already qualified for the semi-finals went on a run-spree at Colts grounds where they notched up a mammoth first day total of 461-2 against BRC. Colts’ total was based largely on the massive opening partnership of 326 between Shalin de Mel who made 172 off 158 balls (24 fours, 3 sixes) and Avishka Perera who was unbeaten on a double hundred (211 off 257 balls, 25 fours, 1 six).  (ST)  

Day one scores

• At Welisara: Navy SC 126 (Bhagya Ediriweera 36, Tharusha Fernando 4/17); Sebastianites 160-8 at close (Manelker de Silva 46, Sulekshana Srieshan 6/63)
• At SSC: SSC 284 (Sadisha Rajapaksa 45, Sammu Ashan 90, Kavishka Senadeera 46, Sonal Dinusha 3/28); CCC 3-3 at close
• At Panagoda: Lankan CC 243-6 at close (Ravindu Ratnayake 44, Prasansana Jayamanne 45, Yasiru Rodrigo 84*, Movin Subasingha 3/87) v Air Force SC
• At Colts: 461-2 at close (Shalin de Mel 172, Avishka Perera 211*) v BRC
• At Galle: Kandy Customs CC 309 (Anju Karunanayake 54, Rashmika Madushanka 53, Sasith Manuragana 116, Hareen Buddila 5/64) v Galle CC
• At Maggona: Kalutara TC 226 (Kawshan Kulasooriya 75, Kanishka Maduwantha 76, Methushan Thilina 4/64, Thanuka Dabare 4/48)