6 games were played today, the 31st of January 2020, where most of it were dominated by some brilliant displays of batting.
Change of balls in Sri Lanka first-class cricket competition
Saeed Bin Nasir gave Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC a flying start to the season, remaining unbeaten on 121 at the close of play on day 1 in their tournament opener against Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club. The SLPA batsmen were on full throttle today where Yohan De Silva (99), Ramesh Nimantha (72) & Adheesha Nanayakkara (52) all scored 50s apart from Nasir’s century, ending the day on 363/4.
Air Force Sports Club took on Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club; another fixture in which the batters dominated. The Airmen batted after winning the toss, outdoing the Kurunegala Youth bowlers on a tough sunny day. Saminda Lakshan top-scored with 99 runs, while Madawa Nimesh (87) & Ravindu Sembukuttige (67) made half-centuries. Air Force were all out for 317 runs at the close of play for day 1.
Police Sports Club took on Navy Sports Club at Welisara, where Navy won the toss and put the Police Sports Club to bat. Yet again, it was the Police batters who yielded successful results in comparison to the Navy bowlers, where they made 357 for their first inning. Dulash Mihiran made 81 while Lakshan Rodrigo (69), Nisar Ahmad (57) & Supun Madhushanka (57) scored useful 50s for Police. Dilanka Auwardt was the lone warrior for Navy, bagging 7 wickets for 133 runs. Navy were 2 down for 11 runs at stumps.
Another fixture at the Galle International Cricket Ground saw the Galle Cricket Club and Sebastianites Cricket & Athletic Club battling it out on their tournament opener. Galle Cricket Club were 264/6 at stumps, which came after valiant half-centuries from Mansur Amjad (80), Jacob Sachin (68) & Kavindu Ediriweera (54). Saman Kumara was the pick of the bowlers for the Sebastianites with figures if 3/64.
Panadura Sports Club and Kandy Customs Sports Club locked horns for their tournament opener at BRC Grounds Colombo. Batting first, Panadura Sports Club made 177 for their first inning where Harsha Cooray top scored with 45 runs. Chirag Khurana picked up 4 wickets for 57 runs while Sachira Perera bagged 3 for 51 runs. In reply, Kandy Customs Sports Club ended day 1 at 124 runs for the loss of 4 wickets with Chanaka Wijesinghe, remaining unbeaten on 41.
26-team first-class competition to begin on 31st January
Nugegoda Sports & Welfare Club met Kalutara Town Club at the Aarons Cricket Club Ground, which turned out to be the only low-scoring encounter of the day, with Nugegoda Sports & Welfare Club were bowled out for a paltry 56 in their first inning. Kalutara Town Club bowlers M. Rashad, Najindra Punchihewa and Eranga Rathnayake ended with figures of 4 for 19, 3 for 23 & 2 for 00 respectively. However, the Nugegoda bowlers Bhasith Ali picked up 5 for 41 & Matheesha Perera picked up 3 for 60 in return, making sure that the KTC Batters were also kept in check.The duo shared 8 wickets in between them before KTC were bowled out for 160 runs for their first innings at stumps.
Brief Scores
Nugegoda Sports & Welfare Club 56 (23)
M Rashad 4/19, Najindra Punchihewa 3/23, Eranga Rathnayake 2/00 & 92/3 (29) Irosh Samarasooriya 29, Matheesha Perera 26*, Ishan Abeysekara 2/41
Vs
Kalutara Town Club 160 (35.2)
Eranga Rathnayake 39, Sachin Dalpadadu 23, Bhasith Ali 5/41, Matheesha Perera 3/60
STUMPS – DAY 1
Panadura Sports Club 177 (50)
Harsha Coorey 45, Vishwa Chathuranga 42, Dineth Karunarathne 28*, Minhnaj Jalil 22, Chirag Khurana 4/57, Sachira Perera 3/51
Vs
Kandy Customs Sports Club 123/4 (34)
Chanaka Wijesinghe 41*, Sasitha Manuranga 27, Hasitha Madushan 27*, Azhar Attari 2/23
STUMPS – DAY 1
Air Force Sports Club 317 (88.3)
Suminda Lakshan 99, Madawa Nimesh 87, Ravindu Sembakuttige 67, Risira Weerasuriya 32, Sameera Sadamal 2/08 Vinodh Perera 2/28, Lahiru Jayaratne 2/48, Shiwakumar Tyron 2/72
Vs
Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club
STUMPS – DAY 1
Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC 363/4 (91)
Saeed Bin Nasir 121*, Yohan De Silva 99, Ramesh Nimantha 72, Adeesha Nanayakkara 52
Vs
Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club
STUMPS – DAY 1
Police Sports Club 357 (83.2)
Dulash Mihiran 81*, Lakshan Rodrigo 69, Nisar Ahmad 57*, Supun Madushanka 57, Maduranga Zoysa 36, Dilanka Auwardt 7/133
Vs
Navy Sports Club 11/2 (4)
STUMPS – DAY 1
Galle Cricket Club 264/6 (90)
Mansur Amjad 80, Jacob Sachin 68*, Kavindu Ediriweera 54, Nimesh Perera 31, Saman Kumara 3/64, Ranesh Perera 2/51
Vs
Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club
STUMPS – DAY 1
