Badureliya Sports Club won the toss and decided to field first against NCC in a group A fixture of the ‘Tier A’ Premier League Tournament worked off at Surrey Village, Maggona today(11).
Ramindu De Silva making his first class debut for NCC had a horrible start to his career when he made a ‘diamond duck’ (a batsman who is out for zero without facing a ball) as NCC lost a wicket off the first ball of the morning to a run out. Pawan Wickramasinghe and Lahiru Udara got things back on track for NCC with a 64 run partnership for the 2nd wicket before left arm spinner Duvindu Tillakaratne removed Udara for 16.
Badureliya took control of the game from then on as they bundled out NCC who were missing many of their key players due to national duty, for a paltry 185. Wickramasinghe top scored for NCC with 42 while Duvindu Tillakaratne, son of ex-Sri Lanka star Hashan Tillakaratne, went on to pick up 6 wickets while also recording his maiden five wicket haul in domestic cricket.
Interestingly, Duvindu Tillakaratne’s twin brother Ravindu Tillakaratne was making his first class debut for NCC in the same game.
In reply, Shehan Fernando came out all guns blazing as he raced to 85 runs off just 82 balls while his knock included 6 fours and 5 sixes. Nadeera Nawela was unbeaten on 48 while Sahan Wijeratne was unbeaten on 24 when stumps were drawn for day 1. Badureliya had already secured a two run 1st innings lead ending the day on 187 for 3. Left arm spinner Chathuranga De Silva picked up 2 wickets for NCC.
NCC- 185 (44.4 overs) Pawan Wickramasinghe 42, Thimira Jayasinghe 41, Angelo Perera 32, Duvindu Tillakaratne 6/78, Alankara Asanka 3/41
Badureliya SC- 187/3 (43 overs) Shehan Fernando 85, Nadeera Nawela 48*, Sahan Wijeratne 24*, Imal Liyanage 24, Chathuranga De Silva 2/69
