Flowers wither at Reid Avenue

Moors after some early scares cruised to an easy six wicket outright win over Bloomfield with a day to spare in their Tier ‘A’ Sara Trophy match played at the Bloomfield grounds yesterday. It was seamer P. Ranjith who was undoubtedly the star of the match.

After just taking just one scalp in the first innings, he ripped through Bloomfield batting line up to finish with figures of 8 for 58 and a match bag of 9 for 70.

Chasing a moderate 128 runs to win Moors slumped to 23 for 4 before a fifth wicket stand of 61 between Anil Riddegammanagedera and Nadeera Nawela steadied the ship as it were. Riddegammanagedera remained unbeaten on 57 while Nawela was dismissed for 50.Elsewhere Badureliya SC were on literal hiding to nothing in their match against SSC. The visitors were struggling at 138 for 9 still needing more than 100 runs to make the hosts bat again.

Colombo Cricket Club look set for a comfortable first innings win against the Tamil Union. They were 278 runs ahead with six second innings wickets still intact.

NCC maybe hoping that rain will come to their rescue. The visitor’s secured first innings points against Colts, but had lost no less than eight key wickets in their second stint with just 124 runs on the board which gave them an overall slender lead of 144 runs.

If any member of the Chilaw Marians did not know what the term ‘leather hunt’ meant they found it out the hard way against Ragama Sports Club. Ragama posted the highest total of the weekend with a mammoth 562 for 8 declared. And like NCC, Chilaw Marians will be hoping for rain after they were bundled out for 183 in their first essay and thus made to follow on. They made 99 for the loss of four wickets before the rain came down.

In Tier ‘B’ matches Saracens sent Lankan CC on a ball hunt as they amassed 503 for 8 declared. P. Bodisha had the honour of being the highest individual scorer of the weekend with a fine 226 runs.

At the Bloomfield Grounds:
Bloomfield 135 and 130 for 6 overnight 151 (D. Dissanayake 69, K. De Silva 17, M. Gunaratne 15, C. Jayasinghe 28, C. Gangodawila 19. P. Ranjith 8 for 48)
Moors 161 and 128 for 4 (A. Riddegammanagedera 57 not out and N. Nawela 50. T. Gamage 3 for 40)
At the SSC Grounds; Badureliya SC 253 and 138 for 9 (D. Vitharana 39, H. Wickremaratne 24, R. Ratnayake 16, P. Liyanage 33 not out. S. Senananayke 4 for 30, K. Lokuarachchi 2 for 22)
SSC 242 for 4 overnight 514 for 8 declared (T. Paranavitana 112, T. Kandamby 110, K. Mapage 35, J. Silva 45, K. Karunanayake 122 not out, T. Samaraweera 31, T. Prasad 27 and N Zoysa 18. K. Dias 3 for 129, M. Ratnayake 2 for 69)
At the CCC Grounds; CCC 252 for 9 Declared and 242 for 4 (M. Vandort 26, J. Mubarak 55, B. Mendis 84 not out, A. Polonowita 45, N. Randika 16 not out)
Tamil Union 187 for 7 overnight 216 (L. De Silva 106 not out, M. Fernando 22, H. Maduwantha 22, R. Sirisoma 16. P. Kumara 4 for 60, A. Weththasinghe 4 for 35, M. Ratnayake 2 for 48)
At Colts Grounds; NCC 295 and 124 for 8 (G. Wijesinghe 31, D. Indika 19, T. Mutaliph 14, M. Gajanayake 16, A. Ganegama 20. R. Perera 4 for 33)
Colts 183 for 5 overnight 275 (M. Warnapura 77, S. Kalavitigoda 14, D. Pathirana 43, K. Jayasinghe 25, M. Prasad 23, P. Perera 27 not out. K. Kulasekera 4 for 43, N. Komasaru 3 for 64, M. Gajanayake 2 for 41.)

At Braybrooke Place; Ragama 562 for 8 declared
Chilaw Marians 183 (C. Fernando 24, K. Fernando 24, G. Wijekoon 37, D. Athulathmudali 16, C. Perera 22. R. Eranga 19, D. Hettiarachhi 18 not out. K. Weeraratne 2 for 54, D. Gamage 2 for 36, M. Bandara 2 for 21.) and 99 for 4 (D. Athulathmudali 56, M. Udawatte 16)

Tier B
At BRC Grounds; BRC 189 for 5 overnight 325 (G. Perera 79, H. Silva 26, S. Harischandra 18, C. Thirimanne 41, M. Madusanka 31, C. Peiris 18 not out. P. Fernando 3 for 88, W. De Mel 3 for 78, S. Dhammika 2 for 28)
Moratuwa SC 227 for 7 (R. Rupasinghe 40, A. Perera 21, M. Mendis 46, K. De Silva 75. M. Madusanka 6 for 48)
At The Panadura Esplanade; Panadura SC 328 and 71 for 2 (M. Fernando 15, S. Umayanga 20 not out)
Singha SC 183 (H. Kumara 48, M. Zoysa 18, S. Randenu 23, H. De Silva 35. W. Wanasinghe 3 for 40, M. Cooray 2 for 35, G. Perera 2 for 16)
At University Grounds; Saracens SC 239 for 4 overnight 503 for 8 Dec(P. Bodhisha 226, V. Alwis 50, S. Serasinghe 113, G. Abeyratne 16, P. Nishantha 15. D. Weerasinghe 3 for 86, K. Fernando 2 for 107)
Lankan CC 66 for 1. (G. De Silva 42 not out.)
At the Moratuwa Grounds; Sebastianites 162 and 112 for 6 (S. Kumar 50, H. Tillekeratne 16, K. Fernando 18 not out K. Ratnayake 3 for 29, S. Prasanna 2 for 27)
Army 64 for 4 overnight198 (S. Sanjeewa 19, R. Karunathilaka 20, S. Prasanna 19, B. Mendis 23, T. Mendis 38 and S. Soyza 27 A. Rodrigo 3 for 36, B. Rajitha 2 for 22, C. Silva 2 for 47, M. Salgado 2 for 37.)
At Rifle Green; Air Force SC 177 for 5 overnight 308 (W. Eranga 49, M. Kularatne 51, R. Mapatuna 29, K. Kumara 89, B. Dissanayake 18, T. Lakshitha 19, K. Lakmal 18. T. Weerasinghe 3 for 62, M. Soyza 2 for 41, H. Jayawardene 2 for 34)
Police SC 114 for 3 (S. Nirmala 15, P. Nirmal 43 not out, H. Priyantha 28)