Major Club T20 tournament
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Tamil Union captained by Navod Paranavithana stamped their authority in the Major Club T20 tournament securing their sixth win out of six to finish on top of Group A and thus qualify for a place in the quarter-finals.
At the receiving end at SSC grounds yesterday was BRC who were beaten by nine wickets. The highlight of the match was the scorching century scored by Thanuka Dabare as Tamil Union chased down BRC’s moderate total of 133-7 to win with 35 balls to spare. Dabare spanked 2 fours and 11 sixes mounting a devastating attack on the hapless BRC bowlers as he raced to his unbeaten century off 50 balls. BRC’s batting was derailed by the right-arm seam of Lahiru Samarakoon who turned up with figures of 4/23. Dulaj Ashen was the only batsman to withstand Samarakoon’s seam movement scoring 48 off 49 balls.
Moors SC and CCC also kept their chances alive of qualifying for a place in the last four with victories. Moors SC thumped Nugegoda SWC by seven wickets at the P Sara Oval with skipper Pasindu Sooriyabandara (59 off 34 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Sohan de Livera (64 off 42 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) setting the stage for the win with an opening stand of 120 off 69 balls. Wiry right-arm fast bowler Garuka Sanketh (4/31) rattled through the Nugegoda SWC batting restricting them to 157-8 where Pulindu Perera made the only noteworthy contribution with 71 off 44 balls (11 fours, 1 six).
Former Nalandian Chamindu Wijesinghe produced a fine all-round performance (42 off 18 balls, 5 sixes and 3/20) to star in CCC’s 103-run win against Police SC at the NCC grounds. Kamindu Mendis (71 off 43 balls, 5 fours, 5 sixes) top scored in CCC’s total of 197-7. Police SC were shot out for 94 with Test star Sonal Dinusha taking 2/5 off his 4 overs.
SSC also secured a place in the quarter-finals with their fourth win in five matches to consolidate their position at the top of Group B. In a low scoring game played at the NCC grounds, Panadura SC were dismissed for 128 with left-arm seamer Mihiranga Silva taking 3/22 supported by national cricketers Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha and Dunith Wellalage with two wickets apiece. SSC romped home by seven wickets mounting their run chase on the third wicket pair skipper Avishka Fernando (66 off 43 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes) and Nuwanidu Fernando (48* off 39 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) who put on 114 off 13 overs after SSC lost their first two wickets for four runs in the first over.
NCC moved to second place behind SSC with a five-wicket win against Ace Capital CC at the P Sara Oval. Excellent bowling by pacie Chamika Gunasekara (4/21) tied Ace Capital CC down to 117-8. Off-spinner Traveen Mathew (3/32) rattled the NCC top order reducing them to 35-4 before Lahiru Udara (47 off 34 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) with the help of Kavin Bandara and Chamika Karunaratne saw NCC home with 21 balls to spare.
Bloomfield beat Colts by four wickets at the SSC grounds with both teams out of contention for a quarter-final place. Colts scored 114-9 and Bloomfield replied with 119-6. Sanuka Galagoda top scored with 56* (off 43 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes).
