- Semi-finalists found in Major Club 50-over tournament
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
National cricketers made merry along with those discarded for the tour of England in the final week of matches that concluded the group stage of the Major Club 50-over tournament yesterday.
Defending champions CCC and Moors SC from Group A, along with Colts and SSC from Group B have qualified for the semi-finals.
CCC came up with an exceptional batting performance racing to the highest total in the current tournament by posting 369-6 in their 72-run win against Tamil Union at the P Sara Oval. Leading the CCC run parade was Kamindu Mendis and discard Lasith Croospulle who provided the foundation for CCC’s big total with an opening partnership of 268. The pair batted till the 41st over before they were separated. Mendis free from the burdens of being the national team’s vice-captain, hit a free-flowing 139 off 129 balls (11 fours, 6 sixes) and Croospulle, dumped after the West Indies tour replied with a stirring innings of 148 off 125 balls studded with 11 fours and 8 sixes. Pavan Rathnayake, another England bound player put the finishing touches to the innings with a delightful innings of 62* off 28 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes). Tamil Union started off well with a stand of 91 by Navod Paranavithana (43) and Sineth Jayawardena but could not sustain the intensity that was required to keep pace with the run rate and were dismissed for 297 in the 45th over. Jayawardena fought a lone battle for a stroke-filled 136 off 103 balls (17 fours, 4 sixes) being the last wicket to fall. Spinners Ashian Daniel (4/56) and Dhananjaya de Silva (3/37) kept the Tamil Union run rate in check.
SSC were put to the test by Bloomfield before winning by five wickets with 19 balls to spare at the Bloomfield grounds. Before the start of the match both teams were in contention for a semi-final berth. Batting first, Bloomfield put up a challenging total of 329, courtesy a career best knock of 165 off 130 balls (18 fours, 5 sixes) from England bound Janith Liyanage. With Asitha Wanninayake (60 off 78 balls, 8 fours), Liyanage added 154 after Bloomfield had lost their first two wickets for 17. Pacie Kasun Rajitha did the early damage to finish with 4/49. SSC’s run chase was spearheaded by their skipper Avishka Fernando who hit a brilliant 138 off 114 balls (15 fours, 4 sixes) and shared in century stands of 136 with Nuwanidu Fernando (57 off 49 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) and 125 with Nipun Dananjaya (69 off 78 balls, 8 fours, 1 six). But it was left to Dunith Wellalage, another cricketer England bound to see SSC cross the line hitting 30* off 19 balls in an unbroken stand of 44 with Vishad Randika (16*).
Colts ensured they finished on top of Group B by beating last year’s runner-up Police SC by 72 runs at Colts grounds. Colts successfully defended their total of 266-6 by bowling out Police SC for 194. It was an all-round bowling effort by Colts that saw them win with the six bowlers they used picking up at least as wicket apiece. Nipun Premaratne top scored for Police SC with 68 off 80 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes). Sangeeth Cooray (85 off 102 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) and Muditha Lakshan (69 off 50 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) were the principle scorers for Colts.
In the other matches that ended yesterday Panadura SC beat Kurunegala YCC by 71 runs at the Panadura esplanade. Replying to Panadura SC’s total of 235-9, Kurunegala YCC were dismissed for 164 to finish without a single win in the group. Former Sri Lanka opener Oshada Fernando top scored for Panadura SC with 78 off 71 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes).
Ace Capital CC finished their campaign with a five-wicket win against Nugegoda SWC at De Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa. Wanuja Sahan produced a deadly spell of left-arm spin (6/34 off 10 overs) to dismiss Nugegoda SWC for 167 for whom another similar spinner top scored with 52* (105 balls, 3 fours). Ace Capital CC knocked off the required runs in 37 overs with Ranesh Silva making 60* off 67 balls (7 fours, 1 six).
In the battle of the wooden spoonists from Group B at Moors SC grounds, BRC pulled off a seven-wicket win over Badureliya CC who finished without a single win. Badureliya CC playing with only nine players due to a dispute over team selection were shot out for 104 by 18-year-old leg-spinner from Jaffna Hartley College, Vigneshwaran Akash (4/15). BRC scored the required runs in 15 overs.
