By Srian Obeyesekere

The Sri Lanka Cricket Major League Tier ‘A’ Cricket tournament 2019/2020 took off with a bang yesterday following the long drawn out drought of cricket activities following the outbreak of the COVID 19 Corona epidemic.

Firing with the bat was Kusal Mendis, the CCC skipper who struck 132 runs in 213 balls with 18 boundaries against Ragama CC at MCG Katunayake.. He thus became the first centurion of the ongoing tournament. Mendis was associated in a 122-run alliance with Ashan Priyanjan who made 58 off 102 balls with 7 boundaries and a six for the third wicket. 

Meanwhile, Angelo Mathews too began in style hammering an unbeaten 80 off 128 balls filled with 6 hits to the ropes against Saracens SC at the P. Saravanamuththu Stadium. He put on an unbroken 142-run alliance for the third wicket with Santhush Gunathilaka (143balls, 3×4). That was after upfront openers Avishka Fernando (66, 106 bs, 3×4, 2×6) and Sadeera Samarawickrema (41, 113bs, 3×4).

The second day’s play of all matches will continue today.

SUPER EIGHT:

* At MCG Katunayake. Colombo CC: 353/4 (82) (Kusal Mendis 132 n.o., Minod Bhanuka 88, Ashan Priyanjan 58, Wanindu Hasaranga 51 n.o., Binura Fernando 2/35) vs Ragama CC.

* At  P. Sara Stadium. Colts CC 256/2 (81 Overs) RR: 3.16 (A.D. Mathews n.o. 80, W.I.A. Fernando 66, S. Gunathilaka n.o. 60, S. Samarawickrema 41, K. Rajitha 2/65) vs Saracens

* At CCC. Chilaw Marians CC: 195 (47.2) (Oshadha Fernando 42, Pulina Tharanga 40, Kasun Vidura 38, Thikshila De Silva 35, Romesh Buddhika 13, Asitha Fernando 12 n.o., Bhanuka Rajapaksa 3/26, Hashen Ramanayake 3/43, Duvindu Tillakaratne 3/54) BRC: 67/5 (23) (Deshan Dais 24, Lasith Lakshan 18, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/6, Thikshila de Silva 2/7) vs BRC

* At SSC. Army CC: 236/9 (72) (Asela Gunaratne 50, Himasha Liyanage 46, Mahesh Kumara 41, Janith Silva 28 n.o., Dinesh Chandimal 19, Thulina Dilshan 14, Yasodha Mendis 12, Chathuranga Silva 10 n.o., Dilesh Gunarathna 4/35, Chathuranga De Silva 3/82) vs NCC.