Kurunegala Youth make defending joint champs SSC eat humble pie
Dinushka Malan, an unheralded pacer from Kurunegala Youth CC, delivered a sensational display of seam bowling to power his side to a stunning 9-wicket victory over defending joint champions Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in their SLC Major Clubs 3-day tournament clash at the SSC ground yesterday.
In his 35th first-class appearance, the 31-year-old former St. Aloysius College player produced career-best match figures of 10 for 58, dismantling a star-studded SSC lineup. His effort secured a resounding win for Kurunegala Youth within just two days of play.
SSC, led by Prabath Jayasuriya and featuring five national caps, collapsed for 89 runs in their first innings. Malan’s devastating first spell saw him claim 5 for 27, including the prized scalps of Dimuth Karunaratne (24), Dasun Shanaka (0), and Jayasuriya (4). Only Karunaratne and Lakshitha Manasinghe (22) managed to cross the 20-run mark.
Dasun Shanaka was one of the five national caps featured in SSC's shocking loss against Kurunegala Youth at their home ground in Colombo
Kurunegala Youth replied with 142 runs in their first innings, thanks in large part to a blistering 31-ball 43 from Lahiru Jayaratne down the order. With a 53-run lead, Malan returned to torment SSC in the second innings, finishing with another five-wicket haul, this time 5 for 31.
SSC’s batting woes continued as they crumbled to 129 all out. Jayaratne set the tone early, trapping Karunaratne lbw for just a run in the third over. Malan then dismantled the rest of the lineup, dismissing Shevon Daniel (12), Shanaka (23), Krishan Sanjula (46), Kavindu Nadeeshan (0), and Jayasuriya (0). A single over from Malan—a masterclass in precision and aggression—yielded three wickets, sealing SSC’s fate. Jayaratne also played a crucial supporting role, finishing with match figures of 5 for 63. Chasing a modest 77 for victory, Kurunegala Youth raced to the target in style. Gayan Maneeshan smashed an explosive 43 off 28 balls before falling, while Dilhara Polgampola remained unbeaten on 25 to guide his team home.
Malan’s extraordinary performance will undoubtedly etch his name into Kurunegala Youth’s cricketing lore, as the little-known pacer humbled one of the most formidable sides in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.
| Brief Scores: | |
| SSC 89 all out (35.4) (Dimuth Karunaratne 24, Lakshitha Manasinghe 22; Dinushka Malan 5/27, Lahiru Jayaratne 3/31) and 129 all out (39.5) (Krishan Sanjula 46, Dasun Shanaka 29; Dinushka Malan 5/27, Lahiru Jayaratne 2/32, Aravinda Premaratne 2/57) Kurunegala Youth 142 all out (41.5) (Lahiru Jayaratne 43, Gayan Maneeshan 39; Dasun Shanaka 5/36, Akmal Fazly 2/32, Kasun Rajitha 2/34) 77 for 1 in 12.5 overs (Gayan Maneeshan 43, Dilhara Polgampola 25n.o.) |