Colts continue winning spree
Colts continued their winning spree in the ongoing SLC Premier T20 cricket tournament when they coasted to their third successive win with a convincing 9-wicket win over Bloomfield at Panagoda yesterday.
Bloomfield invited to take first lease of the wicket fell into deep trouble when they lost their top five wickets with the scoreboard reading 39 runs in the ninth over. They were rescued by Suraj Randiv and Dilhan Cooray by putting on an unbroken 95-run stand for the seventh wicket helping Bloomfield end their innings with a respectable total of 139 for 6. Colts in their turn was given a flying start by openers Kusal Janith Perera and Shehan Fernando as they went on the rampage and sent the Bloomfield bowlers on a leather hunt. The pair added 114 runs in just 41 balls before being separated with the dismissal of Kusal who made a quick-fire 73 in only 27 balls that included seven boundaries and six sixes.
SSC opener Danushka Gunatileke smashed a quick-fire century against CCC - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Fernando joined by Shehan Jayasuriya steered the side to victory with an unbroken stand of 27 runs as Colts reached the target in just 9.5 overs. Fernando remained unbeaten on 52 made in 25 balls which comprised four boundaries and three sixes.
An all-round performance by Dhanushka Gunatileke paved the way for SSC to record an easy 64 runs win over CCC in theier Premier T20 match at the Colts ground. Dhanushka made an unbeaten 102 in just 57 balls inclusive of nine boundaries and five sixes and then followed it up by taking two scalps.
SSC sent into bat by CCC skipper Hasantha Fernando got off to a sound start with Dhanushka and Minod Bhanuka putting on a partnership of 111 runs in 54 balls. The run feast came to an end moments after Minod reached his half ton. A brief stand of 30 runs for the second wicket between Dhanushka and Chamara Kapugedera was followed by Dhanushka being associated in another valuable stand of 69 runs for the third wicket with Dasun Shanuka enabling SSC to end their innings with a formidable score of 246 for 4.
CCC in their run chase got off to a sedate start of 32 but thereafter lost wickets at regular intervals as they slid to 78 for 5 in the ninth over. They recovered through a 77-run stand for the sixth wicket between Chathuranga Kumara and Lasith Abeyratne. But their separation saw CCC falling back again and succeeded in only mustering a score of 182.
Badureliya SC overcame fancied Army SC by 7 wickets in another match played at SSC yesterday. It was the Army SC batsmen that let them down after being sent into bat. Army SC got off to an inauspicious start losing their first wicket on 15. They never recovered from there on and were struggling on 83 for 7 in the 13th over. Despite a knock of 60 coming from Shalika Karunanayake the others failed to make any impression and were bowled out for 123.
Badureliya SC in pursuit started off in style with openers Imesh Udayanga and Amal Athulathmudali putting on 65. Later sensible batting by the batsmen that followed enabled Badureliya SC to race to the target in the 15th over.
Meanwhile in the three matches that were played in the evening session saw NCC and SLPA CC securing their second wins of the tournament while Ragama CC recorded their first win. NCC overcame Moors SC by 3 wickets at the SSC while SLPA CC crushed Chilaw Marians by 8 wickets at Panagoda. Ragama CC beat Tamil Union by 66 runs at Colts ground.
NCC underwent some anxious moments in pursuit of 146 runs as they were atone stage struggling on 84 for 6 in the 11th over. However, they recovered through a 51-run stand for the seventh wicket between Tharindu Kaushal and Saranga Rajaguru who paved the way to reach the target in the 19th over.
SLPA chasing just 80 runs for victory lost two early wickets and an unbroken partnership of 63 runs between skipper Mahela Udawatte and Pulina Tharanga saw them race to the target in the 12th over.
The bowling combination of Amila Aponso, Malinga Bandara and Lahiru Jayaratne scripted the win for Ragama CC as the trio shared six wickets between to bundle out Tamil Union for a score of 68 after Ragama CC had made 134.
At Panagoda: Colts beat Bloomfield by 9 wickets
Bloomfield 139 for 6 in 20 overs (Suraj Randiv 55 n.o., Dilhan Cooray 39 n.o.: Bhanuka Rajapakse 2 for 10)
Colts 141 for 1 in 9.5 overs (Kusal Janith 73, Shehan Fernando 52 n.o.)
At Colts: SSC beat CCC by 64 runs
SSC 246 for 4 in 20 overs (Minod Bhanuka 50, Dasun Shanaka 46, Chamara Kapugedera 15, Dhanushka Gunatileke 102 n.o.: Akalanka Ganegama 2 for 38)
CCC 182 in 19.2 overs (Chathuranga Kumara 53, Geshan Wimaladharma 36, Lasith Abeyratne 29: Binura Fernando 3 for 22, Charith Jayampathi 3 for 54, Dhanushka Gunatileke 2 for 17)
At SSC: Badureliya SC beat Army SC by 7 wickets
Army SC 123 in 18.3 overs (Shalika Karunanayake 60: Mohamed Dilshad 3 for 19, Dushan Vimukthi 3 for 25, Kasun Rajitha 2 for 18, Milinda Siriwardena 2 for 25)
Badureliya SC 124 for 3 in 14.3 overs (Amal Athulathmudali 39, Imesh Udayanga 18, Milinda Siriwardena 33 n.o.: Seekkuge Prasanna 3 for 24)
At SSC: NCC beat Moors by 3 wickets
Moors SC 145 for 9 in 20 overs (Dilhara Lokuhettige 34, Kaushalya Gajasinghe 21 n.o.: Angelo Perera 3 for 19, Farveez Maharoof 2 for 17, Chaminda Vidanapathirana 2 for 19)
NCC 151 for 7 in 17.4 overs (Sandun Weerakkody 20, Tharindu Kaushal 19, Upul Tharanga 18, Saranga Rajaguru 38 n.o.: Sanitha de Mel 3 for 15, Dilhara Lokuhettige 2 for 37)
At Panagoda: SLPA CC beat Chilaw Marians by 8 wickets
Chilaw Marians 79 in 19.2 overs (Rohit Damodaran 19, Shashrika Pussegolla 16: Pulina Tharanga 3 for 4, Malinda Pushpakumara 3 for 14, Shanuka Dissanayake 2 for 15)
SLPA CC 85 for 2 in 11.5 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 15, Mahela Udawatte 42 n.o., Pulina Tharanga 25 n.o.)
At Colts: Ragama CC beat Tamil Union by 66 runs
Ragama CC 134 in 20 overs (Lahiru Milantha 44, Chathura Peiris 18, Sameera de Zoysa 17: T.M. Dilshan 3 for 32, Ramith Rambukwella 2 for 10, Shaminda Eranga 2 for 24, Chanaka Welagedera 2 for 33)
Tamil Union 68 in 12.1 overs (Amila Aponso 2 for 7, Malinga Bandara 2 for 9, Lahiru Jayaratne 2 for 14)