Staunch NCC fight back, deprives Tamil Union of win

Wanuja Sahan 8/43 for Ace Capital CC

Kalana Perera 6/20 for SSC

Theeshan Vithushan 7/27 for Moors SC

Shashika Dulshan 6/54 for Ragama CC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Tamil Union’s attempt to beat NCC and gain full points saw them fall agonizingly short by 10 runs in their Major Club Under-23 match which ended in a draw at the NCC grounds yesterday. Tamil Union had to be satisfied with first innings points, after they were left with 87 to chase off 10 overs. They managed to get to 70-4 with three of the wickets falling to run outs in their mad scramble to reach the target.  

Fifties from Kalana Wijesiri and Ahan Wickramasinghe enabled NCC to deprive Tamil Union of full points. NCC put up a far better batting display in their second innings to total 310 after their dismal 107 in the first innings. Wijesiri scored 64 off 71 balls (7 fours, 4 sixes) and Wickramasinghe 90* off 104 balls (12 fours, 2 sixes). The leg-spin of Vijayakanth Viyaskanth brought him five wickets. Tamil Union continued from their overnight score of 273–3, declared at 331–5.

Wanuja Sahan, 19-year-old left-arm spinner from St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya produced a remarkable spell of bowling taking a career best 8 for 43 to bundle out Air Force SC for 102 in Ace Capital CC’s match played at Katunayake. By stumps Ace Capital SC had batted themselves into a strong position replying with 148–4 of which opener Ravindu Rathnayake’s contribution was a stroke-filled 91 off 111 balls (5 fours, 5 sixes).

Kalana Perera, the former Thomian left-arm fast bowler put SSC in a strong position when he ran through the Sebastianites batting taking six wickets for 20 at the SSC grounds. Along with 17-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Lyceum College, Panadura, Akmal Fazly (3/32) Perera destroyed the Sebastianites batting for 81. By the close SSC had already gained a first innings lead of 84 replying with 165–6. Skipper Nipun Dananjaya made a top score of 69 off 103 balls (6 fours).

Former Jaffna Central College left-arm spinner Theeshan Vithushan bowled Moors SC into a dominant position against Bloomfield at Moors grounds. Theeshan took seven wickets for 27 runs, his best bowling at club level as Bloomfield crumbled for 69. An opening stand of 106 between Dinuka Dilshan (78 off 124 balls, 7 fours) and Omesh Mendis (64 off 46 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes) put Moors SC on course for a big first innings lead ending the day at 309-4. With Janishka Perera (67 off 60 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) and skipper Mohammed Shamaz contributing 58* off 49 balls (6 fours, 1 six), Moors SC enjoyed a lead of 240.

Police SC had a fight on their hands at Police Park to obtain the vital first innings lead. After dismissing Kandy Customs SC for 175, Police SC ended the day on 111–5 when rain brought an early finish – still 65 runs shy of topping Kandy Customs SC’s total. Hirantha Jayasinghe top scored for Kandy Customs SC with 67 off 98 balls (9 fours).

Former St. Servatius College, Matara left-arm spinner Shashika Dulshan put Ragama CC in a sound position to take first innings points at Maggona when he captured six wickets for 54 to dismiss Badureliya CC for 186 where opener Hasitha Amarasinghe top scored with 56 (8 fours, 1 six). Ragama CC in reply were 109–1 with Thevindu Dickwella making 55*.

Half-centuries from Gayana Weerasinghe (82 off 125 balls, 10 fours) and Sathsara Navod (56 off 173 balls, 2 fours) and Deshan Seneviratne (46) saw Kurunegala YCC total 242 against the off-breaks of former Moratu Vidyalaya spinner Shehada Zoysa (5/56) at Panagoda. By stumps Army SC had replied with five without loss.     

Negombo CC put up a dreary batting performance to end the first day on 240─8 off 91 overs against CCC at the CCC grounds. Sandaruwan Chinthaka was their savior with a fighting knock of 92 off 124 balls (7 fours, 6 sixes) after they had lost half the side for 73.

Opener Bhagya Dissanayake missed out on a century by two runs (98 off 179 balls, 11 fours) and Dulaj Ashen struck six sixes in his knock of 64 off 86 balls for BRC to total 301 against Park rivals Colts at BRC grounds. Colts in reply 24–1.

A captain’s knock of 117* off 240 balls (13 fours) from Vinura Dulsara saw Galle CC end the first day of their match against Nugegoda SWC on 252-4 at Bloomfield grounds. All matches continue on their second day today.