The Group stage of SLC Major Clubs 50 Over Tournament 2023/24 concluded today (10th January), with nine more games taking place at several venues across the island.
Dunith Wellalage’s all-round brilliance helped the Colts Cricket Club register a convincing win over Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club in their backyard.
>>Murvin Abinash’s career-best figures script second win for BRC
Wellalage picked up 4 wickets for 16 runs with the ball to restrict Kurunegala YCC to 163 runs. He also notched up a responsible knock (52*) with the bat as Colts CC chased down the target with ease in the 35th over with 5 wickets in hand.
Danushka Sandaruwan’s impressive bowling spell helped Negombo Cricket Club script a 3-wicket win over Ragama Cricket Club at Moors Grounds.
Sandaruwan snared 5 wickets for 29 runs in his 8-over spell, helping Negombo CC restrict Ragama’s batting lineup to just 116 runs. It wasn’t a walk-in-the-park victory for Negombo CC, as they had to battle hard in the run-chase.
>>Dickwella ton, Gunasekara five-fer lead NCC to stunning win
With the conclusion of the Group stage matches, the semi-finalists of the tournament were confirmed. The Group A winner, Sebastianites Cricket & Athletic Club, will take on Group B runners-up Badureliya Sports Club in the first semi-final on the 13th of January at NCC Grounds. In the second semi-final, Group B winner Sinhalese Sports Club will take on Group A runners-up Colts Cricket Club on the 14th of January at the same venue.
Points Table – Group A
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | No Results | Points | NRR |
| Sebastianites C & AC | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 1.308 |
| Colts CC | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0.903 |
| Negombo CC | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0.499 |
| CCC | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 0.962 |
| Moors SC | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 11 | -0.346 |
| Ragama CC | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -0.006 |
| Galle CC | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -0.121 |
| Police SC | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 | -0.400 |
| Tamil Union C & AC | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 | -0.687 |
| Kurunegala YCC | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 | -1.598 |
| Air Force SC | 10 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 5 | -0.903 |
Points Table – Group B
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | No Results | Points | NRR |
| SSC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0.929 |
| Badureliya SC | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0.663 |
| Bloomfield C & AC | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 0.359 |
| NCC | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 1.359 |
| Army SC | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -0.001 |
| Chilaw Marians CC | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -0.302 |
| Nugegoda S & WC | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 0.420 |
| Kandy Customs CC | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 7 | -0.597 |
| Panadura SC | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 | -0.859 |
| BRC | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | -0.813 |
| Ace Capital CC | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 | -0.925 |
Brief Scores
Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club – 102/8 (20) Lasith Abeyratne 23, Dasis Manchanayake 22, Sithara Hapuhinna 20, Chamindu Wijesinghe 4/22, Asitha Fernando 3/16
Colombo Cricket Club – 103/3 (14) Kamindu Mendis 40*, Nimesha Gunasinghe 21, Ravindu Fernando 2/18
Result – CCC won by 7 wickets
Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club – 163 (43.2) Gayan Maneeshan 57, Naveen Fernando 32, Dunith Wellalage 4/16, Muditha Lakshan 3/39
Colts Cricket Club – 164/5 (34.3) Dunith Wellalage 52*, Dhananjaya Lakshan 45*, Chanuka Dilshan 3/23
Result – Colts CC won by 5 wickets
Ragama Cricket Club – 116 (31) Chamath Gomez 45*, Nishan Madushka 25, Danushka Sandaruwan 5/29, Upul Indrasiri 2/19, Dilshan Munaweera 2/23
Negombo Cricket Club – 121/7 (38) Nishan Peiris 34*, Pasindu Lakshanka 21, Nipun Malinga 3/23, Shashika Dulshan 2/22
Result – Negombo CC won by 3 wickets
Air Force Sports Club – 77 (18.5) Kemira Wijenayake 22, Vihanga Ruwanara 21, Charith Rajapaksa 4/30, Dushan Vimukthi 2/8, Chamikara Edirisinghe 2/16, Isitha Wijesundara 2/17
Sebastianites Cricket & Athletic Club – 83/2 (16) Dushan Vimukthi 53, Thulina Dilshan 27*
Result – Sebastianites C & AC won by 8 wickets
Sri Lanka Army Sports Club – 153 (35) Lakshan Edirisinghe 48, Ashan Randika 23, Kavindu Amantha 4/30, Roshan Jayatissa 2/21
Ace Capital Cricket Club – 156/8 (26.3) Roshan Jayatissa 38*, Thanuka Dabare 37, Sithara Gimhan 21, Wanuja Sahan 20, Asanka Manoj 3/51
Result – Ace Capital CC won by 2 wickets
Burgher Recreation Club – 173/7 (25) Dushan Hemantha 66*, Leo Fransisco 34, Dulash Udayanga 27, Rahul Gunasekara 2/24
Nugegoda Sports & Welfare Club – 72/5 (15) Rahul Gunasekara 27*, Akram Muthalib 22*, Janith Silva 2/9
No Result
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club – 170/8 (24) Raveen Yasas 46, Lasith Lakshan 42, Alankara Asanka 2/17, Rohan Sanjaya 2/31
No Result
Nondescripts Cricket Club – 101 (28.3) Chamika Karunaratne 36, Niroshan Dickwella 26, Sahan Nanayakkara 4/14, Sandun Weerakkody 4/34
Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club – 102/9 (36) Nipun Karunanayake 50*, Ashian Daniel 4/25, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/14, Kamil Mishara 2/19
Result – Bloomfield C & AC won by 1 wicket
Kandy Customs Cricket Club – 229/8 (36) Mithun Jayawickrama 73, Lahiru Attanayake 33*, Thevindu Dickwella 28, Imesh Udayanga 25, Nimesh Vimukthi 5/39, Janindu Inuwara 2/47
Panadura Sports Club – 115/7 (26.1) Hashen Ramanayake 27, Nimesh Vimukthi 26, Hasitha Nirmal 3/6, Imesh Udayanga 2/27
Result – Kandy Customs CC won by 68 runs (DLS Method)
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