Galle on top in spite of bothering rain
With rain being the main topic these days in and around Colombo, its affects seem not to have caused any harm at Galle as NCC travelled all the way closer to 100 miles only to be in the receiving end in the second week of the AIA Premier Cricket Tournament.
Minod Bhanuka made 110 not out for SSC against Bloomfield - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Yesterday at tea, NCC was struggling for survival at 83 — having lost six top wickets and was trailing by 215 runs behind Galle CC in their first innings.
In the second day, it took effect as by that time of team 11 wickets have already tumbled – five of Galle and six of NCC. Galle resumed from their overnight score of 264-5 but lost the remaining five scalps for just 34 runs.
Overnight batsman Rumesh Buddhika, who was at 134, managed to add just three runs to his tally before others followed him back to the pavilion with off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal coming in as the main wrecker.
Kaushal captured three top wickets on the first day and swept the low order of Galle CC with an addition of three scalps, after bowling 30.4 overs and conceding 104 runs.
At Surrey Village in Maggona, CCC put Ragama CC in a spot of bother by taking a lead of 266 runs with three wickets in hand after both sides were bowled out cheaply in the first innings.
Allrounder and skipper Sachith Pathirana rose to the occasion to bowl out Ragama CC for 121, who resumed from 103-6, with a five-wicket haul while Lakshan Sandaken gave his skipper the fullest backing, bagging four scalps.
Colts were gradually building up their innings at Panagoda against Army SC and were 61-3 in reply to 119 at tea. Opener Sadeera Samarawickrama was unbeaten on 36 as Colts were still 58 runs behind of Army’s first innings total.
The Soldiers chose to bat and were bowled out for 119 after a delayed start on Friday. They resumed from 39-3 as their top and middle order failed until tail-ender Janith Silva came in to rake 42 runs off 52 balls to become the top scorer.
He hit three fours and two sixes. Prabath Jayasuriya grabbed four scalps while debutant Akila Dananjaya and Ishan Jayaratne shared four.
After a washed out first day home team SSC began their mission against neighbouring rivals Bloomfield with two good knocks from centurion Minod Bhanuka and opener Dhanushka Gunathilaka.
SSC, put in to bat first, were 237-4 at tea with Bhanuka unbeaten on 110 off 166 deliveries.He added 141 runs for the second wicket with his skipper Gunathilaka, who struck 84 off 82 deliveries.
Bhanuka hit 10 fours and five sixes and Gunathilaka was more fired up as he hit eight boundaries and five sixes. Fast bowler Lahiru Madushanka claimed three wickets.
Opener Yohan de Silva was unbeaten on 70 as Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) reached 151-4 at tea on the second day against Chilaw Marians at FTZ ground in Katunayake.
After a washed out first day, play began on time with SLPA building up their innings gradually despite losing wickets at regular intervals. Chilaw Marians won the toss.
Play was yet to commence at Braybrooke Place between Moors SC and Saracens due to a wet outfield caused by continuous rain.
At Galle:
Galle CC (Overnight 264-5) 298 all out in 101.4 overs (Damitha Hunukumbura 55, Rumesh Buddhika 137, Chamara Silva 25, Suraj Randiv 27, Tharindu Kaushal 6 for 104, Anuk Fernando 2 for 27, Chaminda Vidanapathirana 2 for 34)
NCC 83 for 6 wickets in 24 overs at tea (Angelo Perera 34, Nimesha Gunasinghe 24, Gayan Sirisoma 3 for 27, Deshan Sandaruwan 2 for 22)
At Maggona:
CCC 171 all out (52.5) (Hans Fernando 50, Nizam Mazahir 53, Akila Jayasundara 23, Amila Aponso 4 for 33, Sahan Nanayakkara 2 for 33) and 215 for 7 wickets in 52.4 overs at tea (Lahiru Udara 23, Nizam Mazahir 27, Lasith Abeyratne 21, Roshan Anuruddha 16, Sachith Pathirana 80, Akila Jayasundara 24n.o, Amila Aponso 4 for 44)
Ragama CC (Overnight 103-6) 121 all out in 37.1 overs (Nilushan Nonis 15, Lahiru Milantha 27, Chanaka Wijesinghe 50, Sachith Pathirana 5 for 35, Lakshan Sandaken 4 for 39)
At Panagoda:
Army SC (Overnight 39-3) 119 all out in 48.2 overs (Lakshan Edirisinghe 19, Dushan Vimukthi 21, Janith Silva 42, Prabath Jayasuriya 4 for 27, Akila Dananjaya 2 for 32, Ishan Jayaratne 2 for 34)
Colts 61 for 3 wickets in 18 overs at tea (Sadeera Samarawickrama 36n.o, Lakshan Madushanka 2 for 10)
At SSC:
SSC 237 for 4 wickets in 56 overs (Dhanushka Gunathilaka 84, Minod Bhanuka 110n.o, Lahiru Madushanka 3 for 48) vs Bloomfield
At FTZ Katunayake:
SLPA 151 for 4 wickets in 52 overs (Yohan de Silva 70n.o, Ranesh Perera 19, Gayan Maneeshan 26n.o, Lahiru Gamage 2 for 32) vs Chilaw Marians
At Braybrooke Place: Moors vs Saracens – NA