SSC in line to clinch title
SSC, who have already gained a first innings lead against NCC in the SLC Under-23 Division I cricket tournament final, have put themselves in line to clinch the title when play stopped on day two at the Colts ground yesterday.
Ramesh Mendis hit a stubborn knock of 113 to help SSC recover - Pic by Ranjith Perera
SSC resuming on their overnight score of 150 for 5 went on to end their inning making a formidable 304 after bowling out NCC for 230 on the opening day.
Skipper Sanka Ramesh and Ramesh Mendis led SSC’s recovery with the pair putting on a massive 215 runs partnership for the sixth wicket. The pair joined together when SSC was perilously placed with their top five batsmen back in the pavilion with just 25 runs on the board.
The morning session of play on the second day saw the pair adding a further 90 runs before Mendis was dismissed after making a valuable 113 in 152 balls that included 12 boundaries and a six, while skipper Sanka remained unbeaten on 125 made in 215 balls which included 13 boundaries.
The opening day’s play saw SSC winning the toss and inviting NCC to take first lease of the wicket while making an early breakthrough sending back the openers Lahiru Udara and skipper Niroshan Dickwella back to the pavilion with NCC’s score on 39 in the seventh over.
But the NCC’s pair of Pawan Wickramasinghe and Sandun Weerakkody put in some stiff resistance as the duo put on a valuable 72 runs stand for the third wicket before being separated with the dismissal of Wickramasinghe.
Weerakkody joined by Lahiru Madusanka was making steady progress and another partnership was building up before Weerakkody was dismissed having added 40 runs for the fourth wicket having made a quick-fire 55 ball knock of 67 that comprised eight boundaries and a six.
From there on NCC lost their way as they lost wickets at regular intervals with no useful contribution coming in the latter part of the innings. NCC was bowled out for a score of 230. For SSC Kasun Madusanka and skipper Sanka did the bulk of the bowing with the two of them bowling 91 overs between them and sharing six wickets.
NCC batting the second time ended day two on 265 for 3 with skipper Niroshan Dickwella making 80 and Sandun Weerakkody cracking his second half ton of the match remaining unbeaten on 82. The match will be continued today.
NCC 230 (Sandun Weerakkody 67, Pawan Wickramasinghe 33, Lahiru Madusanka 30, NiroshanDickwella 26, Vishad de Silva 17, Saranga Rajaguru 17, Saveen Nanayakkara 17: Kasun Madusanka 3 for 45, Sanka Ramesh 3 for 46) and 265 for 3 (NIroshan Dickwella 80, Lahiru Udara 45, Sandun Weerakkody 82 n.o.)
SSC (150/5 overnight) 304 (Ramesh Mendis 113, Sanka Ramesh 125 n.o.: Saveen Nanayakkara 3 for 31, Dushmantha Chameera 3 for 52)