Sri Lanka national players, Asela Gunarathne, Dimuth Karunarathne and Danushka Gunathilake lit up the first week of the SLC Premier League ‘Tier A’ Tournament stroking wonderful centuries for their respective club teams on Friday.
Know your ‘Tier A’ Club Captains 2016/17
As the SLC Premier League Tournament 2016/17 is set to begin this week.
SL Army vs BRC
Right-handed Gunarathne continued his good form from Zimbabwe stroking an unbeaten 146 for Sri Lanka Army SC against the newly-promoted Burgher Recreation Club at Army Grounds in Panagoda.
Gunarathne’s 193-ball 146 which included 17 fours and a six helped the Soldiers reach 304 for 8 at stumps on day one. Opening batsman Lakshitha Madushan set the platform with a fine 115-ball 67. For the visitors, fast-bowler Vikum Sanjaya was the most impressive taking 4 scalps for 67 runs while veteran left-arm spinner Dinuka Hettiarachchi conceded 92 runs for his 3 wickets.
SL Army – 304/8 in 92 overs: Lakshitha Madushan 67, Manjula De Zoysa 25, Kasun De Silva 32, Asela Gunarathne 146*, Vikum Sanjaya 4/67, Dinuka Hettiarachchi 3/92.
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SSC vs Tamil Union
In a clash of titans, defending champions, Tamil Union bowling were massacred on day one by two SSC stroke makers, Dimuth Karunarathne and Danushka Gunathilaka at P. Sara Oval grounds.
After being sent into bat, the national Test opening duo, Karunarathne and Kaushal Silva added 74 before the latter was dismissed for 28. Gunathilake joined Captain Karunarathne and blasted 201 runs for the 2nd wicket. Gunathilaka registered his 2nd first-class ton slamming 117 runs in 145 balls with 15 fours and a huge six to his name. Karunarathne went onto score 149 off 225 deliveries, 27th first-class ton as the visitors posted 375 for 5 at close.
SSC – 375/5 in 90 overs: Dimuth Karunarathne 149, Kaushal Silva 28, Danushka Gunathilaka 117, Charith Asalanka 31*, Dasun Shanaka 27*, Chamika Karunarathne 2/80.
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CCC vs Saracens
Kasun Rajitha made a sparkling debut for Saracens SC to rip apart the CCC batting lineup at Maitland Crescent.
Right-arm seamer picked up his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket to end up with 6 for for 59 to bundle out the hosts for just 195 runs. Last year’s skipper Sachith Pathirana and young Wanindu Hasaranga scored valuable half-centuries while the other batsmen failed to negotiate the Saracens bowling. The visitors in reply made 101 for 3 in 27 overs with opening batsman, Irosh Samarasuriya holding the fort with an unbeaten 48.
CCC – 195 all out in 52.2 overs: Kusal Mendis 27, Sachith Pathirana 59, Wanindu Hasaranga 52, Kasun Rajitha 6/59, Suraj Randiv 2/53.
Saracens – 101/3 in 27 overs: Irosh Samarasuriya 48*.
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Badureliya vs Chilaw Marians
Off-spinning Captain, Alankara Asanka captured 5 for 102 as Badureliya restricted the Chilaw Marians first innings to 235 on day one at FTZ grounds in Katunayake.
After deciding to bat first, Chilaw Marians lost wickets at regular intervals even though their captain Mahela Udawatte made a fighting 69 from 109 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. Sachithra Serasinghe, Kasun Vidura and Rukshan Fernando made vital contributions of 34, 33 and 33 respectively.
Apart of Asanka’s five-wicket haul, fast bowler Nuwan Karunarathne registered his career-best bowling figures, 3 for 35. In reply, Badureliya lost former Josephian captain Pathum Madusanka for a duck but managed to add 16 runs in 7 overs at stumps.
Chilaw Marians – 235 all out in 79.3 overs: Mahela Udawatte 69, Sachithra Serasinghe 34, Kasun Vidura 33, Rukshan Fernando 33, Alankara Asanka 5/102, Nuwan Karunarathne 3/35.
Badureliya – 16/1 in 7 overs: Shehan Fernando 12*.
All four matches will be continued tomorrow for second day’s play.
