Mendis belts triple ton as Moors make mockery of SLC structure
Ramesh Mendis - 300 not out
In a brutal batting display against a mediocre bowling attack, Moors SC amassed a mammoth 652/8 declared against Negombo CC in a first class game at Braybrooke Place yesterday, reminding strongly the need to overhaul country’s weak domestic cricket structure.
On a good batting wicket, Moors cashed in, in abundance with Ramesh Mendis who finished day one with a career-best unbeaten 205, scored a maiden triple, giving a slap in the face to those resisting a much-needed change to the domestic competitions to raise the declining standards of the game.
Mendis, whose 205 came off 207 balls and included 19 boundaries and six sixes, needed just 63 balls to score the remaining 95 runs scored yesterday morning to finish his innings on an unbeaten 300. Out of the 95 runs, 60 came in boundaries (9 fours and 4 sixes) as the 24-year-old unheralded batsman enjoyed a field day punishing the hapless Negombo bowlers all around the ground.
Yesterday also saw another double century being made-an unbeaten 256 off 257 balls by Lahiru Udara as NCC batting first also scored a massive 482 for six on day one of their three day encounter against Ragama CC at NCC grounds. The right-hander who shared two century partnerships–164 for the fourth wicket with Angelo Perera (74) and 173 for the sixth wicket with Sahan Arachchige (55) was in terrific touch as he took the bowlers to the sword.
These were endorsements of the poor standard of domestic cricket which many greats like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena and Rangana Herath have urged needs to be lifted by reducing the number of clubs. However, authorities have conveniently turned a blind eye to the plea to be in the good books of member clubs who every two years give their mandate to elect the members to the Executive Committee of game’s local keeper – Sri Lanka Cricket.
This year’s tournament includes 26 teams – three more than the previous year – with 12 clubs in Tier A and 14 in Tier B further diluting the tournament.
Lahiru Udara 256 not out - Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
In the match between SSC and CCC- two premier teams -CCC batting first made 430 for six on day one before adding further 118 runs yesterday morning to end their innings on 548. This indicates that even a top tier club like the SSC are struggling to get good players, justifying a statement recently made by former Sri Lanka cricketer Jehan Mubarak who said that Sri Lanka do not have 270 plus top cricketers to play in the first class tournament. This has resulted in half-baked cricketers making their first class appearance, largely contributing to poor standard.
The matches will be continued today.
Tier A Results
- At Braybrooke Place:
Moors SC (509/6 overnight) 652 for 8 declared (Sachithra Serasinghe 149, Nimanda Madusanka 90, Charitha Kumarasinghe 51, Pabasara Waduge 21, Ramesh Mendis 300 n.o.: Roshen Fernando 3/101. Saad Nasim 3/197, Upul Indrasiri 2/150)
Negombo CC 302 for 9 (Rosco Thattil 77, Saad Nasim 58, Lakshitha Rasanjana 53, Dilshan Munaweera 32, Pasindu Lakshanka 23, Ashen Silva 18: Sachithra Serasinghe 3/66, Ramesh Mendis 3/74, Krishan Anjula 2/46)
- At CCC:
CCC (430/6 overnight) 548 (Lasith Abeyratne 153, Minod Bhanuka 114, Ashan Priyanjan 90, Pawantha Weerasinghe 37, Wanidu Hasaranga 23, Malindu Maduranga 21, Pavan Ratnayake 71 n.o.: Akash Senaratne 4/120, Charith Aslanka 2/53, Himesh Ramanayake 2/71, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/99)
SSC 234 for 7 (Kavindu Kulasekera 84, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 48, Charith Asalanka 33, Sandun Weerakkody 24, Sohan de Livera 17: Malinda Pushpakumara 3/52, Usman Ishak 2/58)
- At Dombagoda:
Army SC (279/3 overnight) 435 (Lakshan Edirisinghe 99, Dushan Vimukthi 82, Asela Gunaratne 82, Himasha Liyanage 48, Seekkuge Prasanna 42: Duvindu Tillekeratne 4/80, Sagar Manglorkar 2/64)
BRC 88 (Bhanuka Rajapakse 19, Tharindu Kaushal 19 n.o.: Dushan Vimukthi 5/20, Heshan Hettiarachchi 3/30) and 59 for 2 (Nisal Fransisco 17, Sagar Manglorkar 36 n.o.)
- At P Sara Stadium:
Saracens SC 296 for 9 declared (Milinda Siriwardena 76, Chamikara Edirisinghe 28, Gamindu Kanishka 129 n.o.: Jeewan Mendis 4/68)
Tamil Union (1/0 overnight) 245 for 9 (Jeewan Mendis 83, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 26, Manoj Sarathchandra 26, Prasansana Jayamanna 23: Mohamed Dilshad 3/31, Chamikara Edirisinghe 2/71)
- At NCC:
NCC 482 for 6 (Angelo Perera 74, Chathuranga de Silva 57, Sahan Arachchige 55, Lahiru Udara 256 n.o.: Ishan Jayaratne 2/89, Amila Aponso 2/125) vs Ragama CC