By Srian Obeyesekere
CCCs lower order Anjala Bandara pulverized the BRC bowlers to the tune of a rollicking unbeaten 182 off 229 balls hammering 20 boundaries at his home grounds in lifting his side from a wobbly 87 for 4 to 478 after opener Nishan Madushka, straight from his match winning second test ODI half century, fell for a duck and Minod Bhanuka for 2.
He shared in a 131 fifth wicket partnership with Sri Lanka test captain Dhananjaya de Silva who struck 83 off 111 inclusive of 8 boundaries and and 2 over the top. The total was further bolstered by Pawan Sandesh 62 0ff 71 with 8 boundaries and 3 sixes, Inuka Karannagoda 55 off 70 hitting 8 boundaries, and upfront Lasith Croospulle 51 off 41 with 6 boundaries and 2 over the top in further nudging the national selectors for big stage recognition.
BRCs wicket takers were Chamika Heenatigala 3 for 62 and and Malinda Pushpakumara whose 2 wickets came for some stick conceding 158 runs.
Meanwhile, Kamil Mishara struck 151 off 211 balls inclusive of 10 boundaries and a six and skipper Sahan Arachchige an unbeaten 135 off 181 balls containing 8 boundaries and a six as NCC powered to 410 for 4 wickets on the opening day of their Group B match 3-day Sri Lanka Cricket Major League fixture versus Kurunegela YCC at the Welagedera Sadium, Kurunegela.
Mishara and Arachchige put on 194 for the fourth wicket having cometogether with the score on 119 for 3. Kavin Bandara was unbeaten on 61 off 52 hitting 10 boundaries while Ahan Wickramasinghe made 34 off 61 with 2 boundaries and Nioshan Dickwella upfront 22 with 3 to the ropes.
Radeera Ranasinghe took 2 wickets for 44 and Aravinda Premaratne 1 for 104 for Kurunegela.
Having shot out Nugegoda SWC for 90 runs, Tamil Union C&AC ran up 332 for 6 with the hard hitting Sandun Weerakkody striking a scintillating 128 off 88 balls hammering 13 boundaries and 8 sixes before retiring hurt at the Police Park Grounds.
Other contributors were Sineth Jayawardena 47, Lahiru Samarakoon 41, Navod Paranavithana 38 and Thulina Dilshan 28,
Tilakaratne Sampath took 3 for 120 for Nugegoda SWC
Moors SC ran up 209 for 4 versus Kandy Customs CC with opening batsman Janishka Perera leading the way with a 141-bal; 101 inclusive of 11 boundaries having bowled out their opponents for 154 with chiefly Milan Rathnayake 3 for 33 and Ramesh Mendis claiming 3 for 33 and Chanuka Dilshan 2 for 41 delivering with the ball for Moors SC.
Chief Scores:
NCC 410/4 (90 Overs) vs Kurunegela YCC
(Kamil Mishara 151, Sahan Arachchige n.o. 135, Kavin Bandara n.o. 61, Ahan Wickramasinghe 34, Niroshan Dickwella 22, Randeera Ranasinghe 2/44, Aravinda Premaratne 1/104)
Nugegoda SWC vs Tamil Union
Nugegoda SWC 90 (33,1 Overs)
(Lahiru Samarakoon 4/30, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 3/23, Tharindu Rathnayake 2/24)
Tamil Union 323/6 (56 Overs)
(Sandu Weerakkody retd hurt 128, Sineth Jayawardena 47, Lahiru Samarakoon 41, Navod Paranavithana 38, Thulina Dilshan 28, Tillakaratne Sampath 3/120, Sandun Madushanka 1/43, Madhuka Liyanapthiranage 1/84)
Tamil Union 323/6 (
Kandy Customs 154 (37.1 Overs) vs. Moors SC
(Sahan Kosala 70, Yohan Maddege 16, Usman Ishak 14, Imesh Udayanga 12, Milan Rathnayake 3/34, Ramesh Mendis 3/33, Chanuka Dilshan 2/41, Janishka Perera 1/6, Thilan Prashan 1/34)
Moors SC 270/5 (49.3 Overs)
(Janishka Pere0ra 101, Sohan de Livera 77, Ravishan de Silva 15, Yohan Maddege 2/3, Usman Ishak 1/27, Kaumal Nanayakkara 1/62)
CCC 477/9 (96.4 Overs) vs BRC
(Anjala Bandara n.o. 189, Dhananjaya de Silva 83, Pawan Sandesh 62, Inuka Karannagoda 55, Lasith Croospulle 51, Chamika Heenatigala 3/62, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/159_
