Western Province South and North edge closer to the final

Western Province Central vs Northern Province

St. Peter’s College and Western Province Central middle order batsman, Manelkar De Silva took the spotlight against Northern Province at Colts grounds.

The Northern Province opening bowlers, K Kapilraj and S Mathushan cleaned up the top five batsmen of the Western Province South to only 25 runs but a valiant unbeaten knock of 97 off 139 balls which included 10 fours and 3 sixes by Manelkar De Silva single-handedly helped his team reach a respectable score of 171. Both fast-bowlers from Jaffna claimed 7 wickets in total.

In reply, Northern Province were in all sorts of problems as they ended day one on 72 for 6 in 36 overs. They need another 100 runs in 29 overs on day two to clinch a historic win.

WP Central – 171 all out in 64 overs: Manelkar De Silva 97*, Vishad Randika 37, S. Mathushan 3/32, Kapil Raj 4/67, Ayana Siriwardana 2/42.

Northern – 74/6 in 36 overs: V Jathushan 15, Sajith Sameera 2/25.

Western Province North vs North Western Province

North Western Province fought back strongly in the latter stages on day one in their group A’s marquee encounter against Western Province North at Army grounds in Panagoda.

St. Joseph’s College and Western Province North opening batsman Nipun Sumanasinghe stroked a well-constructed 126-ball 66 to propel his team to a reasonable 221 for 9 before declaring the innings. Right arm medium fast bowler, Wanitha Wanninayake and left-arm spinner Damitha Silva picked up 3 wickets apiece.

North Western Province lost 6 wickets for 90 as the Josephian fast-bowler Jehan Daniel and off-spinner Samitha Ranga took 2 wickets each but skipper Damitha and Heshan Fernando built an unbroken 56-run stand for the 6^th wicket to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive. They still need 76 runs to win the game on first-innings.

WP North – 221/9 declared in 56.1 overs: Nipun Sumanasinghe 66, Krishan Sanjula 49, Nipun Haggalla 28, Damitha Silva 3/70, Wanitha Wanninayake 3/48.

North Western – 146/6 in 44 overs: Kamesh Nirmal 27, Damitha Silva 40*, Heshan Fernando 29*, Jehan Daniel 2/24, Samitha Ranga 2/15.

Southern Province vs Western Province South

In the group B deciding clash at FTZ grounds in Katunayake, Western Province South are in control against Southern Province at stumps on day one.

After being sent into bat, St. Aloysius’ College wicket-keeper batsman and Southern Province Skipper Navindu Nirmal played a magnificent knock of 83 off 136 deliveries which included 9 elegant fours as he anchored their innings to 240. The Cambrian duo, Thilan Nimesh and Dilesh Nanayakkara grabbed 3 wickets apiece.

The Westerners in reply made 135 for 2 at close of play. The openers, Avishka Fernando and Vishwa Chathuranga slammed brilliant half-centuries while adding 117 runs for the first wicket.

Southern – 240 all out in 64.2 overs: Navindu Nirmal 83, Nipun Ransika 38, Thilan Prasan 31, Ashen Bandara 31, Avishka Fernando 2/25, Thilan Nimesh 3/52, Dilesh Nanayakkara 3/57.

WP South – 135/2 in 37 overs: Vishwa Chathuranga 76*, Avishka Fernando 54.

North Central Province vs Central Province

St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy off-break bowler Sivakumar Tiron’s excellent of 6 for 81 gave major honours to Central Province against North Central Province at R. Premadasa International Stadium.

Four batsmen crossed the 30-run mark for North Central but none of them converted their good starts into massive knocks as they were bowled in the penultimate ball for just 205. In reply, Central Province openers, Shanogeeth and Udangamuwa added 76 before the latter was undone by the left-arm spin of Asel Sigera.

North Central – 205 all out in 64.5 overs: Sajith De Silva 39, Pubudu Chathuranga 32, Sahan Ishara 31, Heshan Senura 31, Sivakumar Tiron 6/81, Thisaru Dilshan 2/37.

Central – 76/1 in 18.3 overs: Bawantha Udangamuwa 29, Shanogeeth Shanmuganathn 46*.