CCC and SSC in keen tussle for the title
The final round of matches of the Premier Super 8 Cricket Tournament, which will decide the champions, is turning out to be a keen tussle between table leaders CCC and SSC. The battle was evident when proceedings ended on day three at Colts CC and P. Sara Stadium yesterday.
Promod Maduwantha of Saracens celebrates his double ton in style - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
CCC, who is leading the points table with 85.92 points, is in a strong position against NCC thanks to tons by Ron Chandragupta and Minod Bhanuka. Chandragupta cracked 118 with 17 boundaries while Bhanuka made 104 with 12 boundaries and a six. The duo shared a massive partnership of 209 runs for the second wicket.
CCC resumed their innings on day three from their overnight score of 322 for 3 and went on to make 427 runs. This was after NCC made 411 runs. NCC were 243 for 4 in their second innings when stumps were drawn.
SSC, who is in second position with 82.44 points, had a daunting task before they came into the game against Chilaw Marians. They had to record an outright win by innings if they were to lay the hands on the title. That looks impossible and with only one day of play left SSC have set a victory target of 366 runs for Chilaw Marians.
Meanwhile Promod Maduwantha of Saracens SC became the fourth player of the tournament to slam two double tons this season when he made 212 against Tamil Union in their match at the NCC.
The others to achieve this feat this season were Kaushal Silva (SSC), Priyamal Perera (Colts), Avishka Fernando (Colts) and Angelo Perera (NCC). In fact Angelo’s feat of 201 and 231which was against SSC last week was an exceptional effort as he became the first ever Si Lankan cricketer to achieve this and the second ever in the world, with first being way back in 1938 by Kent batsman Arthur Fagg against Essex when he made 244 and 202 not out.
Results:
- At Colts:
NCC 411 and 243 for 4 (Pathum Nissanka 70, Lahiru Udara 50, Chathuranga de Silva 114 n.o.: Wanindi Hasaranga 3 for 61)
CCC (322/3 overnight) 427 (Ron Chandragupta 118, Minod Bhanuka 104, Ashan Priyanjan 51, Wanindu Hasaranga 40, Lahiru Abeyratne 26, Madawa Warnapura 20: Chathuranga de Silva 4 for 103, Asitha Fernando 2 for 65)
- At P. Sara Oval:
SSC 374 and 265 for 9 declared (Kavindu Kulasekera 71, Dasun Randika 68, Nipun Dhananjaya 61, Tharindu Ratnayake 27 n.o.: Sagar Paresh 5 for 107, Pulina Tharanga 3 for 42)
Chilaw Marians 274 and 57 for 2 (Yasoda Lanka 26: Sachithra Senanayake 2 for 19)
- At NCC:
Tamil Union 330 (Manoj Sarathchandra 68, Sithara Gimhan 52, Tharanga Paranavithana 50, Kamindu Mendis 41, Ramith Rambukwella 40, Sachithra Serasinghe 34: Saliya Saman 3 for 40, Kanishka Amarasinghe 3 for 74)
Saracens SC (264/4 overnight) 574 for 9 (Promod Maduwantha 212, Nipun Karunanayake 149, Ashen Bandara 94, Andy Solomons 77: Ramith Rambukwella 4 for 96, Rangana Herath 2 for 73)
- At Katunayake:
Colts 574 for 9 declared (Dhananjaya Lakshan 141, Priyamal Perera 127, Vishad Randika 106, Avishka Fernando 75, Nisala Tharaka 55, Jehan Daniel 29: Asela Gunaratne 2 for 40, Nuwan Liyanapathirana 2 for 67, Buddhika Madusanka 2 for 91, Dhanushka Bandara 2 for 124)
Army SC Army SC (41/2 overnight) 168 (Himasha Liyanage 46, Dhanushka Bandara 26: Nalin Priyadharshana 4 for 32, Nisala Tharaka 3 for 43, Jehan Daniel 2 for 33) and 210 for 3 (Dushan Vimukthi 40, Kaveesh Kumara 23, Asela Gunaratne 86 n.o., Himasha Liyanage 48 n.o.)