Women’s Inter-Club Division I (50-over) tournament Seenigama CC escapes bad weather to record thumping win

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Rain affected yesterday’s matches in the Women’s Inter-Club Division I (50-over) tournament with one game being decided on the Duckworth/Lewis rain method, another ending in a no-result and a third being postponed for today. Seenigama CC were the only team to escape the bad weather routing Colts by 183 runs at Colts grounds.

Air Force SC A continued their unbeaten run when they beat Navy SC by 12 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis rain rule at Welisara. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Air Force SC A were bundled out for 102 by 21-year-old left-arm medium-fast bowler Tharika Sewwandi who dismissed four of the top five batters to end with figures of 4 for 25. 

Navy SC in their turn also struggled to score runs being reduced to 85-9 off 38.1 overs when rain ended play. Under the D/L rain rule Navy SC’s score should have been 97 after 38.1 overs. 

Teenager Vishmi Gunaratne made up for the early loss of her opening partner national captain Chamari Athapaththu for 10, by scoring her maiden century in white ball  cricket that saw Chilaw Marians CC rattle up a score of 234-3 at Panagoda. But that effort was lost when heavy rain washed out play forcing a No Result before Army SC could begin their reply. 

16-year-old Vishmi, who has represented her country in four Women’s T20Is, hit 16 fours and a six in compiling a marvellous 138 off 149 balls. Vishmi figured in an unbroken stand of 160 with Sandali Weerasinghe (59* off 90 balls, 6 fours) in two stages. Sandali retired hurt with her score on 22 having added 40 with Vishmi and returned to bat at the fall of the third wicket to add a further 120 to the partnership.

Skipper Kaveesha Dilhari came up with an excellent all-round performance that saw Seenigama CC trounce Colts CC by 183 runs at Colts grounds. National cap Dilhari top scored for Seenigama CC with a forceful knock of 68 off 78 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) that saw them score 231-9 after opting to bat first. 

Then combining with another national cap left-arm spinner Sachini Nisansala, Kaveesha with her off-breaks dismantled the Colts batting as they were shot out for 48 in 21 overs. The spinners shared eight wickets between them.

The match between Air Force SC B and Army SC A at Air Force grounds Katunayake was postponed for today because of a wet outfield.     

Results

At Welisara: Air Force SC A beat Navy SC by 12 runs (D/L method)

Air Force SC A 102 (37.3) (Malsha Shehani 45, Inoshi Fernando 21, Udeshika Prabodani 2/16, Tharika Sewwandi 4/25, Inoka Ranaweera 2/22)

Navy SC 85-9 (38.1) (Harshitha Samarawickrama 26, Inoshi Fernando 2/12, Oshadi Ranasinghe 4/9)

At Colts: Seenigama CC beat Colts CC by 183 runs

Seenigama CC 231-9 (50) (Sachini Nisansala 27, Navodya Nethmini 21, Kaveesha Dilhari 68, Kawya Kavindi 25, AD Janakanthimala 2/38, Shikari de Silva 4/24)

Colts CC 48 (20.4) (Extras 14, Sachini Nisansala 4/18, Vihara Sewwandi 2/8, Kaveesha Dilhari 4/13)

At Panagoda: No result (rain)

Chilaw Marians SC 234-3 (50) (Vishmi Gunaratne 138*, Sandali Weerasinghe 59*) v Army SC B