T20 World Cup discard Kusal Perera smashes 9 sixes in 26-ball 75*

• NCC, Colts go atop group tables
• SLC Major Club T20 tournament

T20 World Cup discard Kusal Perera produced his best innings of the ongoing SLC Major Club T20 tournament when he crunched nine sixes and two fours in a blazing innings of 75* off 26 balls to lead Police SC to a convincing seven-wicket win over Nugegoda SWC at Bloomfield grounds yesterday.

Perera’s assault on the hapless Nugegoda SWC bowlers, saw Police SC reach their target of 128 in only 8.5 overs and register their first win of the tournament. With Vishad Randika (33 off 12 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes), Perera put on a third wicket stand of 61 off 23 balls. In a match reduced to 16 overs-a-side Nugegoda SWC were dismissed for 127 with spinners Dilum Sudeera (3/29) and Supun Madushanka (2/26) doing the main damage.

NCC went to the top of the Group A table displacing CCC with their second straight win beating Ragama CC by 46 runs at Bloomfield grounds. The match reduced to 13 overs-a-side because of bad weather, saw NCC batters smashed 153-6 with the bulk of runs coming off the bats of Lahiru Udara (37 off 17 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes), Chamika Karunaratne (42* off 21 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and Kavin Bandara (28 off 7 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes). Ragama CC in reply were bundled out for 107 in 10.1 overs with Sri Lanka fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara producing his best figures in T20 cricket – 4/9 off 2.1 overs. He received good support from Karunaratne (2/24) and Lahiru Kumara (2/27).  

In Group D, Colts with a superior net run rate displaced Bloomfield as the group leaders. Both teams have two wins from two matches. In a 19 overs-a-side game at Bloomfield grounds, Colts beat Kurunegala YCC by six wickets with 35 balls to spare which improved their net run rate immensely. Kurunegala YCC could manage only 89-9, their batting being subdued by left-arm spinner Muditha Lakshan who returned career best figures of 4/18. Sri Lanka cricketer Dinesh Chandimal (38 off 28 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) and Yashodha Lanka (24 off 15 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) were the principle scorers for Colts in their score of 90-4.  

Spinners Nimesh Vimukthi (3/10) and Imthiyas Slaza (3/17) bowled Panadura SC to their first win of the tournament when they beat Kandy Customs CC by four wickets at NCC grounds. After dismissing Kandy Customs CC for 98, Panadura SC knocked the runs off with five overs to spare. Vishen Halambage set the tone for their run chase with a delightful 35 off 21 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes). 

-(ST)

TODAY’S MATCHES

nAt P. Sara Oval: Chilaw Marians CC v Badureliya CC (9.45 a.m.); SSC v Negombo CC (2 p.m.)

nAt SSC: Moors SC v BRC (9.45 am); Ace Capital CC v Tamil Union (2 p.m.)