SLC MAJOR LEAGUE TIER ‘A’ PLATE CHAMPIONSHIP

By Srian Obeyesekere

The Sri Lanka Army SC after some recent lousy performances were indebted to former Sri Lanka Captain Dinesh Chandimal, who struck a phenomenal unbeaten innings of 354 off 391 balls which is a new first class record studded with 33 boundaries and 9 sixes in a total of 642 for 8 declared at the FTZ Sports Complex, Katunayake. Having resumed from an overnight 136, he stood firm like the Rock of  Gibraltar as he tore in to a hapless Saracens bowling attack. Chandimal’s star studded performance with the bat was a timely reminder to the national selectors as well who chucked him out of the 2019 world cup squad that form is temporary but that class is permanent.

Saracens SC were 72 for 2 at stumps.

Champs CCC in trouble Vs. Chilaw Marians

 Super Eight champions CCC ran in to serious trouble for the first time with their unscathed reputation close to being undone by the Chilaw Marians CC trailing by 103 runs with eight second innings wickets intact in the Super Eight match of the Sri Lanka Cricket Major League Tier ‘A’ Tournament at stumps on the second day of the fourth week. Having being dismissed for 287 in the first innings, CCC were on 68 for 2 in the face of Chilaw Marians imposing first innings total of 458 for 9 declared.

If Shehan Jayasuriya led the run assault on CCC with a 95-ball 108 in paving the way for the Marians dominance of proceedings, it was Nimesh Vimukthi who starred with the ball with a 5 wicket haul in reducing CCC to 287 in the first essay while Jayasuriya returned to star with the ball accounting for both CCC second innings wickets, the second one that of Minod Bhanuka on the stroke of stumps being drawn when he had him caught for 25. At the wickets were CCC skipper Kusal Mendis on 25 and night watchman Lahiru Gamage yet to get off the mark.

The Marians innings was a concerted effort with Jayasuriya swishing 13 boundaries and 3 sixes after openers Oshada Fernando 85 (134b, 8×4, 2×6) and Lasith Croospulle 50 (38b, 8×4, 1×6) set the sparks flying upfront  posting 56 for the first wicket. Other key contributors were Kasun Vidura Adikari 61 (76b, 7×4), Rumesh Buddika 56 (72b, 6×4, 1×6) and Pulina Tharanga 34 (64b, 4×4).

BRC 142/2 in reply to Ragama CC’s 491

BRC were 142 for 2 in reply to Ragama CC’s first innings total of 491 at stumps on the second day of the Super Eight match in the fourth week of the Sri Lanka Cricket Major League Tier ‘A’ Tournament at the P. Saravanamuththu Stadium on Wednesday. Shanuka Dulaj Withanawasam was unbeaten on 59 off 70 balls with 6 boundaries and 2 sixes. That was after opening batsmen  Nisal Fernando 50 off 128 inclusive of 5 boundaries and and Lasith Lakshan 32 off 58 with 2 boundaries and a six had added 56 for the first wicket.  The second wicket alliance between Withanawasam and Francisco was worth 86.

At the outset, Ragama CC added 182 to their overnight total of 309 for 2 with Lahiru Jayasundera adding 4 to his overnight 154.  Binura Fernando went on to stroke an unbeaten 52 off 59 with 7 boundaries and a six.

Colts CC face defeat at hands of NCC

Meanwhile, NCC were in total command over Colts CC who were facing certain defeat trailing by 117 runs with just four second innings wickets remaining. They made 222 and were 119 for 6 with skipper Sadeera Samarawickrema unbeaten on 51 off 111 inclusive of 4 boundaries while star batsman Angelo Mathews retiring hurt on 30 having top scored with 52 off 69 in the first innings hitting 5 boundaries. Colts chances of saving the game will largely depend on Samarawickrema and the fitness of Mathews on the third and final day.  Doing the damage with the ball was Chaturanga de Silva who took 5 Colts first innings wickets for 56 and Lasith Embuldeniya 2 for 47, Ashian Daniel 2 for 59 and 3 for 30 and Dushmantha Chameera 2 for 12.

SUPER EIGHT:

AT P. SARA STADIUM

Ragama CC 491 (O/N 309/2) (134.1 Overs) RR: 3.65

(M.D.U.S. Jayasundera n.o. 158, H.D.R.L. Thirimanne 140, B. Fernando n.o. 52, M.A. Aponso 38, H.I.A. Jayaratne 36,  P.W.S. Dulshan 21, M.A.S. Jayathilake 18, H. Ramanayake 3/80,D.S. Tillakaratne 3/136)

BRC 142/2 (42.4 Overs) RR: 3.32

(S.D. Withanawasam n.o. 59, N. Franscisco 50, W.W.W.L. Lakshan 32)

AT THE CCC GROUNDS

NCC 458 (88.2 Overs) RR: 5.18 Vs. Colts CC

(A.K. Perera 107, Kamil Mishara n.o. 72, L.U. Igalagamage 66, S.S.D. Arachchige 44, P.C. de Silva 41,P.V.D. Chameera 28, L. Embuldeniya 15, W.U. Tharanga 11, M.D.K. Perera 4/119)

Colts CC 222 (51 Overs) RR: 4.35

(A.D. Mathews 52, S. Samarawickrema 39, M.D.K. Perera 27,N.T. Gamage 22, A. Dananjaya 22, W.I.A. Fernando 19, S. Gunathilaka 10, P.C. de Silva 5/56, L. Embuldeniya 2/47,  A. Daniel 2/59)

And 119/6 (37 Overs) RR: 3.21

(S. Samarawickrema 51, A.D. Mathews retired hurt 30, M.D.K. Perera 12, A. Daniel 3/30, P.V.D. Chameera 2/12)

AT SSC GROUNDS

CCC 287 (59.5 Overs) RR: 4.79, VS. Chilaw Marians CC

(L. Abeyratne 68, L.D. Madushanka 45, S.M.A. Priyanjan 35,P.A.D.L.R. Sandakan 35, P.W.H. de Silva 23, R.K. Chandraguptha 18, P.M. Pushpakumara 12, N. Vimukthi 5/59 A.M. Fernando 3/75)

Chilaw Marians 458/9 decl. (87 Overs) RR: 5.26

(G.S.N.F.G. Jayasuriya 108, B.O.P. Fernando 85, K.V.A. Adikari 61, M.L.R. Buddika 56, L. Croospulle 50, D.H.A.P. Tharanga 34, S.T. de Silva 20, N. Vimukthi 12, P.M. Pushpakumara 4/106, P.A.D.L.R. Sandakan 3/112)

AT FTZ SPORTS COMPLEX, KATUNAYAKE

SL Army SC 642 (O/N 344/5) (156.2 Overs) RR: 4.1 Vs. Saracens SC

(L.D. Chandimal n.o. 354, D.A. Randika 63, M.V.T.P. Dilshan 67, L.E.K. Edirisinghe 45,

A.J.C. Silva 35, M.N.M. Dilshad 23, W.T. Dilshan 19, H.S. Liyanage 18, M.N.M. Dilshad 2/86, P. Maduwantha 2/90)

Saracens SC 72/2 (20.3 Overs) RR: 3.51

(G.K. Amarasinghe n.o. 40, S. Gimhan 26, K.D.V. Vimukthi 2/34)