Table toppers NCC, Colts impress on opening day

Saturday, 4 January 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Nugegoda SWC batsman Kevin Perera scored his maiden first-class century

SLC Major Club 3-day tournament

Ashian Daniel took 5/36 for NCC against BRC

Police SC’s Dilum Sudeera took a career best 6/21

Off-spinner Ashian Daniel took 5/36 and seamer Chamika Karunaratne 3/27 to help Group B table toppers NCC dismiss BRC for 226 on the opening day of their SLC Major Club 3-day match at NCC grounds yesterday.

Deshan Dias (74 off 164 balls, 7 fours), Dilshan de Soysa (65 off 176 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Roshen Silva (51 off 64 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) made the bulk of runs for BRC. By stumps NCC had replied with 25-0.

At Colts grounds, Group A leaders Colts ended the first day against Bloomfield on 278-8 with the main contributions coming off the bats of Test cricketer Angelo Mathews (88 off 179 balls, 9 fours) and Kavishka Anjula, a career best 82* off 129 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes).

Defending joint champions SSC had a fight on their hands after Nugegoda SWC invited to bat first at SSC grounds hit up an impressive 311 courtesy a maiden first-class century from former Maris Stella Negombo cricketer Kevin Perera (116 off 126 balls, 20 fours). Chamika Edirisinghe (43* off 75 balls, 6 fours) partnered Perera in a face-saving stand of 86 for the 9th wicket to lift Nugegoda from 199-8. Former NCC captain Angelo Perera contributed with an enterprising 50 off 57 balls (5 fours, 1 six). By the close SSC had wiped out 81 of those runs losing one wicket.

Left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera took a career best 6/21 to dismiss Chilaw Marians CC for 128 at Police Park. Police SC the joint defending champions put themselves in a strong position by replying with 93-4 to trail by 55.

Moors SC rattled up the highest total of the day 327-5 against Tamil Union at the P Sara Oval. Sohan de Livera scored 79 off 108 balls (8 fours), Sadeera Samarawickrama (59 off 88 balls, 10 fours) and Sri Lanka ‘A’ Captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara, a cultured 88* off 141 balls (6 fours, 1 six).

Kandy Customs CC ended the first day of their match against Kurunegala YCC at the Welagedara Stadium on 260-5 with contributions of 86 off 146 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) from opener Malindu Maduranga and 69* off 108 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) from Sahan Kosala.

Panadura SC had the upper hand in their match against Badureliya CC at Panadura. Badureliya CC were dismissed for 186 with Geeth Kumara making a top score of 52 and left-arm spinner Nimesh Vimukthi capturing 4/60. By stumps Panadura SC had replied with 59-0 and were in a good position to gain a substantial first innings lead.

A wet ground and bad light curtailed play to 49 overs at Surrey Village, Maggona where Ace Capital CC invited to bat first by Ragama CC finished the day on 162-6 with former Sri Lanka Under19 cricketer Raveen de Silva scoring a maiden first-class fifty (54* off 127 balls, 2 fours). All matches continue on the second day today. – [ST]