Shanaka brightens up an overcast day with 62 off 27 balls

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana returned from his stint with IPL to bowl Army SC to victory over Bloomfield

Gihan Rupasinghe and Rajeewa Sandaruwan starred for Badureliya SC in their win over CCC

 By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka’s white ball skipper Dasun Shanaka hit a powerful 62 off 27 balls inclusive of seven sixes against Air Force SC in a SLC Major T20 inter-club match yesterday as he warmed up for the forthcoming series against Australia.

Shanaka hit the last three balls of Deshan Fernando’s and Nipuna Kariyawasam’s overs for sixes as SSC added 105 off 56 balls during his presence in the middle to eventually post 159-5 in a contest reduced to 16 overs a side on an overcast day where most of the matches didn’t go the distance.

Shanaka also had a hand in restricting Air Force SC to 119-7 capturing two wickets for seven runs as they lost four wickets in 10 balls sliding from 108-3. Former Dharmasoka Ambalangoda leg-spinner Kavindu Nadeeshan picked up three wickets despite conceding 41 runs off his three overs.

Moors SC defended a moderate total of 125 by restricting Kalutara TC to 117-9 to pull off a close eight-run win. Moors SC rode on Pasindu Sooriyabandara’s knock of 58 off 42 balls for their total and their spinners kept Kalutara TC’s batsmen pegged down with a tight leash on the scoring.

Galle CC were also successful in defending a low total beating Kurunegala YCC by 40 runs after scoring a modest 107-9. Kurunegala YCC where shot out for 67 with left-arm spinners Ravishka Wijesiri and Sandun Madushanka doing the damage with three wickets apiece. 

Bloomfield lost five wickets for 13 runs in their pursuit of 155 and lost by 47 runs to Army SC who were strengthened by the return of Sri Lanka white ball spinner Maheesh Theekshana from the IPL where he represented Chennai Super Kings. 

Theekshana opening the bowling picked up two Bloomfield wickets for 24 runs, while the main damage was done by former Sri Lanka all-rounder Asela Gunaratne with three wickets for 18 runs. Army SC scored 154 and Bloomfield replied with 108-9 in a game reduced to 19 overs.

Saracens SC batting crumbled for 105-9 to the part-time off-breaks of Thanuka Dabare who ended up taking four wickets for 15 runs to help Ace Capitals CC to an easy eight wickets win. CCC lost to Badureliya SC by 11 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis rain rule when their target was adjusted to 133 off 17.2 overs but ended up scoring 121-7 despite an unbeaten 62 off 49 balls from skipper Lasith

Abeyratne. 

Half-centuries from Rajiva Sandaruwan (54 off 39 balls, 4 sixes) and Gihan Rupasinghe (52 off 40 balls, 3 sixes) saw Badureliya SC reach 154-6 after choosing to bat first.

Results

At CCC: SSC beat Air Force SC by 40 runs

• SSC 159-5 (16) (Krishan Sanjula 34, Shevon Daniel 35, Dasun Shanaka 62, Movin Subasingha 1/19)

• Air Force SC 119-7 (16) (Sahil Dias 25, Movin Subasingha 33 retd ht, Kavindu Nadeeshan 3/41, Dasun Shanaka 2/7)

At CCC: Galle CC beat Kurunegala YCC by 40 runs

• Galle CC 107-9 (20) (Tharindu Amarasinghe 26, Lahiru Jayaratne 2/15, Nilanka Premaratne 2/30, Dinanjaya Premaratna 2/18)

• Kurunegala YCC 67 (16.2) (Chatura Lakshan 2/6, Ravishka Wijesiri 3/26, Sandun Madushanka 3/7)

At NCC: Moors SC beat Kalutara TC by eight runs

• Moors SC 125-9 (20) (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 58, Tashik Perera 3/28, Inshaka Siriwardena 3/17)

• Kalutara TC 117-9 (20) (Damidu Ashan 19, Sandaken Pathirana 2/17, Tilanga Udeshana 2/16, Ayana Siriwardhana 2/16) 

At NCC: Ace Capital CC beat Saracens SC by eight wickets

• Saracens SC 105-9 (20) (Sithara Gimhan 21, Ashan Dilhara 2/20, Thanuka Dabare 4/15) 

•  Ace Capital CC 107-2 (16.2) (Shehan Fernando 31, Harsha Cooray 30*, Pramud Hettiwatte 25*)

At SSC: Army SC beat Bloomfield by 46 runs

• Army SC 154 (19) (Ashan Randika 25, Lakshan Edirisinghe 33, Asela Gunaratne 22, Himasha Liyanage 30, Kavindu Ridmal 4/31, Madawa Warnapura 2/36, Chanaka Komasaru 2/29)

• Bloomfield 108-9 (19) (Yohan Chanuka 25, Lahiru Madushanka 31, Maheesh Theekshana 2/24, Lakshan Gamage 2/12, Asela Gunaratne 3/18)

At SSC: Badureliya SC beat CCC by 11 runs (D/L method)

• Badureliya SC 154-6 (20) (Rajeeva Sandaruwan 54, Dunith Jayatunga 21, Gihan Rupasinghe 52, Nuwan Thushara 3/32) 

• CCC 121-7 (17.2) (Lasith Abeyratne 62*, Pawan Pathiraja 33, Senal de Silva 2/22, Chatura Randunu 2/25)