NCC, Colts, Tamil Union, Moors on top
The Major Club T20 domestic cricket tournament which is in full swing has almost reached the halfway stage. Four teams – NCC, Colts, Tamil Union and Moors SC — have taken the top slots in the four groups and are yet to taste defeat.
But out of the lot two teams, NCC from Group ‘A’ and Moors SC from Group ‘D’, have the best winning record having won all the four matches they played so far. NCC began their campaign with a convincing 48-run win over Panadura SC, and went on to record wins against defending champions Army SC by 9 wickets, Air Force by 7 wickets and Chilaw Marians by 56 runs.
Moors got off with a comfortable 8-wicket win over Kandy Customs and followed it up with wins against Galle CC by 8 wickets, Negombo CC by 8 wickets and CCC by 4 runs. Colts in Group ‘B’ and Tamil Union in Group ‘C’ too are unbeaten, but Colts have played only two matches. They got the better of Bloomfield by 3 wickets and Nugegoda S&WC by 8 wickets while Tamil Union has won all three games played. They beat Badureliya SC by 24 runs, SSC by 4 wickets and Kurunegala YCC by 39 runs.
Ace Capital, slotted in Group ‘B’ with Tamil Union, are also unbeaten having won both matches they have played. But they occupy the second slot.
Meanwhile former Sri Lanka skipper and opener Upul Tharanga has showed that he has not lost his touch. He leads the batting spot having accumulated 190 runs in four matches with a best of an unbeaten 101 against Chilaw Marians.
Tharanga is followed by Kasun Vidura of Chilaw Marians (143), Asela Gunaratne of Army SC (133), Rajeewa Werrasinghe of Panadura SC (124) and Sineth Jayawardena also of Panadura SC (123).
In the bowling Lahiru Samarakoon of Moors SC leads with 12 scalps followed by Asel Sigera of NCC (9), Nalin Priyadharshana of Police SC (9). Sandun Mendis of CCC (8) and Ashian Daniel of NCC (8).
With the league matches scheduled to come to an end by June 7, it’s going to be crucial for the top four teams. NCC is pitted to play against Police SC in their last league match today while Moors SC are due to play their last match against BRC on June 6.
Colts have two more matches, against Ragama CC on June 6 and Sebastianites CC on June 7 while Ace Capital have two more matches against SSC on June 5 and leaders Tamil Union on June 7. These games will be significant for the teams who are aiming to advance to the knockout stage.