Lahiru Milantha and Jason Perera slammed exquisite centuries for Ragama CC as five matches in the SLC under 23 division 1 tournament 2014 week 2 already produced first innings decisions at stumps on day 2.
Resuming from their overnight score of 204, Ragama CC plundered the hapless Navy bowling attack as they posted a mammoth score of 497 in 101 overs at Welisara. Opening batsman Jason Perera scored 14 boundaries in his knock of 118 while wicket-keeper batsman Lahiru Milantha pounded 161 runs in 207 deliveries. Supeshala Jayathilake (71) and Lahiru Jayarathne (66) inflicted more salt into the Navy wound with quick fire half-centuries. Navy SC is on verge of an innings loss as they were 103 for the loss of 5 wickets when the officiating umpires called it ‘time’. Left arm spinner Amila Aponso bowled a terrifying spell for Ragama CC picking up 3 wickets.
SSC batsmen battled hard on day 2 to record a close first innings win over Bloomfield C & AC as tall off-spinner Koshan Danushka troubled the visitors with a fine 6 wicket haul at Bloomfield grounds. Left handed opening batsman Vishwa Wijerathne top scored for SSC with an elegant innings of 69 after Bloomfield were bundled out for 191 on day 1. Vishwa together with skipper Sanka Ramesh guided the SSC chase which they eventually got through by a small margin as the visitors were bowled out for 197. Bloomfield was placed on 35/1 in 13 overs at stumps on day 2.
Army SC used turtle tactics in chasing Colts CC score of 377 as the hosts; Army SC posted 231 runs for the loss of 5 wickets when bad light brought an early end at Panagoda on day 2. Opening batsman, left handed Leo Fransisco gave them a steady start with a patient 44 runs at the start of the innings battling for 134 deliveries while Adeesha Thilanchana remained unbeaten on 45. Lahiru Madushan and Lakshan Edirisinghe contributed the cause with identical scores of 30. Mystery spinner Akhila Dananjaya picked up 3 crucial wickets in his 33 over bowling spell.
Akhil Inham (84), Sewvinda Silva (68) and Shehan Anuruddika (75) stroked attractive half-centuries for Negombo CC as the visitors registered a crucial first innings win over defending champions, Tamil Union C & AC at P. Sara Oval stadium. Chasing Tamil Union’s 1st innings score of 248, overnight batsmen for Negombo CC, Akhil Inham and Malinga Gunarathne’s opening stand ended at 117. Middle order players batted with great confidence in accumulating runs as visitors posted 332 runs all out in 105.4 overs. Thineth Manishka and Pramod Liyanagamage captured 3 wickets apiece for the home team. Tamil Union lost 2 early wickets in their 2nd innings as they were 26/2 in 6.5 overs at close of play.
Sri Lanka under 19 player Roshan Anurudda’s fighting unbeaten 55 ensured Colombo Cricket Club register another close first innings win over Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club at Maitland Crescent. Vice-captain Chathuranga Kumara made 42 runs for the hosts while lower middle order batsman, Roshan Anurudda’s half-century helped CCC end their 1st innings on 239 runs in reply to SLPACC’s score of 234. Off-spinner Sanjaya Chathuranga scalped 5 wickets for 79 runs. SLPACC was 98 for the loss of 3 wickets at stumps with a lead of over 103 runs.
Shehan Jayasuriya scored a captain’s knock of 84 runs as Moors SC took the first innings lead over Moratuwa SC in their SLC under 23 division 1 tournament at De Zoysa stadium, Moratuwa. Moors SC ended day 1 with a healthy batting score card of 123 for 1 wicket. Moors SC innings came to a close thanks to 3 wicket hauls by Sahan Nanayakkara and Krishan Weerarathne. Kaushala Gajasinghe’s well-compiled 52 runs was not his best performance on day 2 as starred with the ball for Moors SC capturing 6 wickets from all 7 Moratuwa wickets which fell in their 2nd innings. Skipper Deshan Dias’s 47 was the only highlight as Moratuwa SC ended day 2 with 197 for 7 wickets in 49 overs.
All the 6 matches will be continued tomorrow.
