Major League Tier A Tournament: CCC and NCC in outright wins

CCC trounced Colts by an innings and 158-runs in a Group A match on their home grounds while NCC coasted to a 5-wicket win over BRC in a Group B match during the third week’s matches of the Tier A Major League Tournament. The rest of the three matches ended in no results. Saracens SC came close to humbling the more fancied Ragama CC falling short by 35 runs with 5 wickets in hand at Thurstan grounds while SSC was stalled by Bloomfield, and the Tamil Union versus Army encounter was a high scoring affair at Panagoda.

The architect of CCC’s victory was P.W.H. de Silva who came up with a superb all-round performance claiming 8 for 26 and scoring 120 to take the major individual honours in the third week’s matches.  Batting first, Colts was bundled out for 89 in the first innings with M. de Silva claiming 3 wickets for 13 and Lahiru Gamage 3 for 29 respectively with Lakshan Sandakan 2 for 5. CCC amassed 385 on the back of centuries by P.W.H. de Silva 120 (12×4) and M. Warnapura an unbeaten 111 (5×4 1×6). They shared in a 183-run alliance for the sixth wicket. Colts was bowled out for 138 in the second innings with P.W.H. de Silva returning remarkable figures of 8 for 26.

Chief Scores:

Group A:

CCC beat Colts by an innings and 158-runs.

Colts 89 (P.A.R.P. Perera 26 K. Anjula n.o. 24, M. de Silva 3/13, L. Gamage 3/29, P.A.D.L.R. Sandakan 2/5). And 138 (T.P.I. Lakhantha 45, M.M.S. Cooray 34, K. Anjula 22,  P.W. de Silva 8/26).

CCC 385/9 decl. (P.W.H. de Silva 120, M. Warnapura n.o. 111, K. Anjula 5/60).

NCC pulled off an exciting 5 wicket triumph over BRC in a Group B match at NCC grounds. Having taken 78—run first innings lead on a total of 322 on 104 by A.K. Perera in reply to BRC’s 244 built on P.D. Dias’ 105, NCC dismissed BRC for 180 in the second essay romping home on 103 for 5 with Mahela Udawatte leading the way with 50.

Chief Scores:

Group B: NCC beat BRC by 5 wickets at BRC grounds.

BRC 244. (P.D. Dias 105, M.L.R. Buddika 38, S. Randiv 24, V.S. de Mel 22, L. Ambuldeniya 6/59). And 180 (L. Lakshan 80, M.L.R. Buddika 50, Ambuldeniya 4/70, C.B.A.L.S. Kumara 3/27).

NCC 322 (A.K. Perera 104, L.U. Igalagamage 49, D.H.T. Kaushal 44, M. Udawatte 27, S. Randiv 3/83). And 103/5 (M. Udawatte 50, Igalagamage 32, T.N. Sampath 2/39).

Time saved Ragama CC from defeat with Saracens SC, set 257 to win in 30 overs, falling short by 35 in a Group A match at Thurstan grounds.

Group A: Saracens SC vs Ragama CC at Thurstan grounds match drawn.

Ragama CC 266. (J. Liyanagamage 130 L. Thirimanne 80, M.N.M. Dilshan 3/64).  And 211/8 decl. (M.D.S. Jayasundera 97, H.I.A. Jayaratne 34, D.K.R.C. Jayatissa 3/64).

Saracens 221 (N.H.G. Cooray 52, P. Madwantha 44, A.D. Solomons 36, S. Nanayakkara 5/51, M.A.A. Aponso 3/51). And 222/5 (R. Gunasekera 70, M. Jaleel 51, P.A.S.S. Jeewantha n.o. 36, A.D. Solomons 30).

SSC took the honours in their drawn Group A match versus Bloomfield at the SSC grounds. Bloomfield, batting first was dismissed for 263 to which SSC rattled up 464 for 3 declared with Sri Lanka discard Kaushal Silva striking an unbeaten 202 and Dimuth Karunaratne 143 in sharing in a record 305-run alliance for the first wicket. However, Bloomfield fared better in the second innings making 277 for 4 boosted by a fine 122 by Nipun Karunanayake. Sachithra Senanayake had a match haul of 9 for 161.

Group A:

SSC vs Bloomfield at SSC grounds match drawn.

Bloomfield 263 (J.A.L.H. Jayakody 86, S.M.L.D. Samarakoon 34, S. Senanayake 7/82). And 277/4 (.P.N.M. Karnanayake 122, N. Franscisco 61, A.N. Nanayakkara n.o. 57, Senanayake 2/79).

The drawn Group B match between Tamil Union and Army at Panagoda saw both sides piling up huge first innings totals. Batting first, Army made 331 propelled by half centuries by A. L. Madushan 87, A.K.N. de Silva 72 and A.C. Silva 54. Tamil Union replied with 435 for 9 with D.M. Sarathchandra top scoring with an unbeaten 119 and half tons by S. Gimhanana 96 and B.A.D.N. Silva 44. In the second innings Army made 170 for 5 with N.K. Ilukwatte making 69.

Group B:

Tamil Union vs. Army at Panagoda match drawn.

Army 331 (A..L. Madushan 87, A.K.N. de Silva 72, A.C. Silva 54, B.A.D.N. Silva 5/82, B.M.A.J. Mendis 3/60). And 170/5 (N.K. Ilukwatte 69, A.J. Mendis 2/41).

Tamil Union 435/9 decl. (D.M. Sarathchandra n.o. 119, S. Gimhanana 96, B.A.D.N. Silva 44, N.K. Liyanapathirana 3/75).

By Srian Obeyesekere

-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-