Tamil Union, Moors SC suffer stunning defeats

Malinda Pushpakumara and Ashen Bandara the architects of Police SC’s win over Tamil Union

 Chaturanga de Silva (95 and 5/30) put defending champs CCC back on track with a win over Galle CC

Major Club 3-day league

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Last year’s Major Club 3-day league runner-up Tamil Union and current Group B table leaders suffered shock defeats at the hands of Police SC and Bloomfield respectively in the matches concluded yesterday. There were also wins for CCC, Badureliya SC, Kurunegala YCC and Ace Capitals CC. Colts, Ragama CC, Army SC and Kandy Customs CC had to be content with first innings points.

Tamil Union suffered a stunning 57-run loss to Police SC at Police Park. Left with the task of chasing 262 for victory, Tamil Union’s batting was consumed for 204 by former Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara who ran through their batting taking 6/101 (match bag of 9/195). Sri Lanka’s white ball cricketer Ashen Bandara continued his fine form for the season scoring his third century – 113* off 148 balls (9 fours, 1 six) in Police SC’s second innings of 303-7 declared.  

An excellent all-round bowling performance by Bloomfield bowlers saw them squeeze out a four-wicket win over Group B table leaders Moors SC at Moors grounds. In a low scoring game Moors SC having conceded first innings points to Bloomfield were bundled out for 130 in their second innings, leaving Bloomfield the formal task of scoring 42 for victory. But Bloomfield nearly made a mess of it, losing their first four wickets for 26 before limping home at 45-6 with Moors SC spinners Theesan Vithushan (4/22) and skipper Ramesh Mendis (2/20) causing a few flutters in the dressing room.

Following a close encounter in their opening match of the season against Nugegoda SWC, defending champions CCC came roaring back to form to snatch full points by defeating Galle CC by 214 runs in their match played at the CCC grounds. 

CCC, continuing from their overnight total of 157-4 closed their second innings at 287-9 leaving Galle the tall task of chasing 311 for victory. But the Galle CC batting crumbled for 96 to the spin of wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan (4/27) and the left-arm spin of Chaturanga de Silva who followed his knock of 95 off 145 balls (9 fours, 1 six) with figures of 5/30.    

Badureliya SC’s spin trio of Parvez Rasool (match bag of 7/93), Chanaka Komasaru (5/98) and Nirmala Ratnayake (5/65) bowled their club to a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Chilaw Marians CC at Surrey Village grounds, Maggona. Chilaw Marians CC who had conceded a first innings lead of 63 to Badureliya SC, were shot out for 67 in their second innings which Badureliya SC with five runs to score for a win which they did without losing a wicket. Left-arm spinner Dilanka Auwardt took 5/58 to bowl Kurunegala YCC to an innings and 56 runs win against Air Force SC at Welagedera Stadium, Kurunegala. Auwardt took 3/81 in the first innings to dismiss Air Force SC for 191 and following-on 252 runs in arrears were bowled a second time for 196. Kurunegala YCC scored 443-8 declared.

A last wicket partnership of 100 between Chamika Gunasekara (53 off 91 balls, 4 fours) and Ashian Daniel a career best 49* off 84 balls (2 fours) failed to save NCC from defeat at the hands of Ace Capital CC at Katunayake. Thanks to the stand NCC were all out for 297 in their second innings leaving Ace Capital CC 294 to chase in the fourth innings. An opening stand of 156 between Pawantha Weerasinghe (51 off 113 balls, 3 fours) and Thanuka Dabare (130 off 125 balls, 11 fours, 7 sixes) saw Ace Capital CC home and dry by six wickets. Left-arm spinner Wanuja Sahana took 5/101 in the NCC second innings.

Group A table leaders Colts had to be content with first innings points when Panadura SC held out stoically for a draw at Colts grounds. Colts closed their second innings at 240-5 with Yasodha Lanka top scoring with 93 off 107 balls (10 fours) and Jehan Daniel - 51* off 44 balls (1 four, 3 sixes). Panadura SC left with a target of 362 held out to be 137-6.

Batsman Santhush Gunathilaka took his maiden five-fer in first-class cricket – 5/60 bowling seam to give Ragama CC the vital first innings points over SSC in their key Group A match which ended in a draw at the SSC grounds. Ragama CC who scored 345, dismissed SSC for 296 despite a second consecutive century from Shevon Daniel. Ragama CC were 342-7 in their second innings with Janith Liyanage missing out on a century in each innings by six runs when he was dismissed for 94 (141 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes).

Former Captain Dinesh Chandimal scored a timely century (105* off 137 balls, 6 fours, 5 sixes) ahead of the upcoming Tests against Pakistan to help Army SC take first innings points in their drawn match against BRC at Panagoda. Chandimal and Army SC Captain Lakshan Edirisinghe (104* off 152 balls, 8 fours, 3 sixes) shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 202 in Army SC’s second innings total of 260-2 declared. Requiring 305, BRC were 151-3 when bad light ended play.

Kandy Customs CC squeezed out a 13-run first innings win over Nugegoda SWC in their drawn game at Moratuwa.