Dhananjaya’s 132 helps Ragama CC to victory
A fine knock of 132 in only 129 balls inclusive of 23 boundaries by Dhananjaya de Silva enabled defending champions Ragama CC to record a comfortable 97-run win over Air Force SC in the Premier Limited Over encounter played at the Surrey Village ground in Maggona yesterday. This was Ragama CC’s second successive win of the tournament.
Ragama CC were given a sound start by openers Michael Vandort and Dhananjaya who together added 56 runs in just 49 balls. Lahiru Thirmanne was unable to make any valuable contribution as Ragama CC lost their second wicket with the score on 78.
Dhananjaya joined by Ian Daniel propped up the Ragama CC innings with the pair putting on a valuable 105-run stand for the third wicket before they were separated with the dismissal of Daniel who made a 52 with five boundaries and a six.
Dhananjaya added a further 49 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Sameera Zoysa and later Zoysa and Malinga Bandara’s sixth wicket stand of 59 runs saw Ragama CC end their innings making a formidable score of 294 for 6.
Air Force in their run chase got off to an inauspicious start losing their first wicket with just two runs on the board. They slid to 76 for 5 in the 18th over and managed to finish their quota of 50 overs to end with a score of 197 for 9.
294 for 6 in 50 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 132, Ian Daniel 52, Malinga Bandara 32, Sameera de Zoysa 35 n.o.)
197 for 9 in 50 overs (T. Nadeera 40, Akila Isanka 21, Ajith Kumara 19, Gihan Dilruk 17, Pishan Hewage 50 n.o.: Alankara Asanka 3 for 43, Lahiru Jayaratne 2 for 32, Nilanka Premaratne 2 for 34)
Bhanuka,Milinda guide Colts
Bhanuka Rajapakse cracked a run-a-ball 61 with five boundaries and three sixes while Milinda Siriwardena made an unbeaten 58 in 66 balls inclusive of two boundaries and four sixes as Colts coasted to an easy sixwicket win over CCC to record their second win in their Premier Limited Over match played at the Colts ground.
Earlier in the day CCC batting first fell into dire straits when they lost their top five batsmen with the scoreboard reading just 37. But some pinch hitting by Chathuranga Kumara who made a quick fire 93 in 75 balls with 11 boundaries and two sixes enabled them end on a respectable score of 182.
Colts in reply helped Bhanuka and Milinda who together put on a partnership of 94 runs for the fourth-wicket enabling them to reach the target in the 31st over.
182 in 43.5 overs (Chathuranga Kumara 93, Hasantha Fernando 28: Thisara Perera 4 for 44, Sachith Pathirana 2 for 24, Nuwan Kulasekera 2 for 28)
184 for 5 in 31 overs (Bhanuka Rajapakse 61, Thisara Perera 30, Kusal Perera 18, Milinda Siriwardena 58 n.o.: Arosh Janoda 2 for 29, Akalanka Ganegama 2 for 39)
Three-wicket win for Army SC
Army SC too recorded their second successive win of the Premier Limited Over tournament with a three-wicket win over Badureliya CC in the match played at Panagoda yesterday.
Badureliya CC invited to take first lease of the wicket failed to make any impression with the bat again. Despite a knock of 50 coming from skipper Saman Jayantha they were bowled out for a score of 149.
Army SC in their turn underwent some anxious moments as they lost wickets at regular intervals before they were able to reach the target in the 39th over thanks to an unbeaten half ton by Asela Gunaratne.
149 in 40.3 overs (Saman Jayantha 50, Janishka Premasinghe 30, Andy Solomons 19: Manjula de Zoysa 3 for 14, Ravindra Palleguruge 2 for 23, Ajantha Mendis 2 for 34)
150 for 7 in 38.4 overs (Manjula de Zoysa 28, Rishan Kavinga 17, Asela Gunaratne 50 n.o.: Navin Kavikara 2 for 16, Ruwan Sampath 2 for 36)
NCC by six wickets
NCC registered a six-wicket win over Chilaw Marians in the Premier Limited Over match played at the SSC ground yesterday to record their second win. Chilaw Marians batting first were restricted to a score of 152 while NCC coasted to victory in the 33rd over.
152 in 44.3 overs (Rohit Damodaran 23, Umesh Karunaratne 63 n.o.: Sohan Boralessa 3 for 30, Tharindu Kaushal 3 for 38)
156 for 4 in 33 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 40, Dinesh Chandimal 36, Upul Tharanga 35, Angelo Perera 40 n.o.: Saliya Saman 2 for 46)
SSC defeat Bloomfield
SSC defeated Bloomfield by four wickets to secure their first win in another match played at Reid Avenue. Bloomfield sent into bat first was bundled out for a low score of 133. However SSC had to dig deep before reaching the target of 134 runs in the 29th over.
133 in 41.5 overs (Dilhan Cooray 33, Chathura Randunu 24, Suraj Randiv 18, Anoj Katipiarachchi 17: Charith Jayampathi 3 for 19, Sachithra Senanayake 2 for 23)
135 for 6 in 28.2 overs (Kaushal Silva 41, Dhanushka Gunatileke 25, Chamara Kapugedera 18, Dasun Shanaka 16: Suraj Randiv 2 for 28)
Moors SC in first win
Moors SC recorded their first win of the Premier Limited Over tournament when they beat SLPA CC by 13 runs in the match played at Braybrooke Place.
Moors SC struggling on 52 for 5 in only the 13th over recovered thanks to lower order batting to end with a score of 214. SLPS CC in reply was making steady progress but faltered when it needed most and were bowled out for 201.
214 in 50 overs (Janaka Gunaratne 51, Kaushalya Gajasinghe 46, Dilhara Lokuhettige 30, Chathuranga de Silva 24, Malinda Pushpakumara 20: Chandima Bandara 4 for 43, Sachithra Serasinghe 2 for 33)
201 in 48.2 overs (Shantha Kalavitigoda 40, Mahela Udawatte 39, Ashan Priyanjan 27, Sachithra Serasinghe 24, Ranesh Perera 22 n.o.: Chathuranga de Silva 3 for 41, Dilhara Lokuhettige 2 for 32)