Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Mahela, Dhananjaya help SLPA make bold reply

- By M. Shamil Amit

Sri Lanka Port Authority CC (SLPA CC) openers Dhananjaya de Silva and Mahela Udawatte helped the side to make a bold reply against Army SC’s 324 at the end of the second day’s proceeding­s in the Premier league match at the CCC ground.

Dhananjaya made a top knock of 116 comprising of 13 boundaries while Mahela made 89 that included 12 boundaries. The pair gave the side a flying start as they put on a massive 173 runs opening wicket and later an unbeaten knock of 68 by Sachithra Serasinghe saw them end day two on 379 for 4.

The opening day’s play saw Army SC taking first lease of the wicket being steered by half tons from Dilan Soysa and Shalika Karunanaya­ke which helped end their innings making a formidable score of 324 runs.

CCC continued their domination against SSC as they ended the second day in a strong position in the match played at the SSC ground. The first days play saw SSC batting first putting up a poor display as apart from an unbeaten knock of 40 by Binura Fernando the others failed to make any impression in their score of 179 runs.

CCC having ended day one on 175 for 2 was guided by tons from Chamara Silva who made a knock 120 and skipper Hasantha Fernando 106 and with Hashan Dumindu having hit a 72 earlier saw them end their innings making a mammoth score of 406.

Ragama CC have already taken a first inning lead over Air Force SC when play stopped on day two at Braybrooke Place. Ragama CC taking first lease of the wicket on day one spearheade­d by a knock of 141 by Chanaka Wijesinghe made a formidable score of 288 and Air Force SC ending the day on 41 for 2.

The second day’s proceeding­s saw the left and right arm spin combinatio­n of Amila Aponso and Malinga Bandara who together shared eight wickets between them combining to bowl out the Airmen resuming on their overnight score to a low score of 159.The right arm spin and pace combinatio­n of Dilruwan Perera and Ishan Jayaratne wrecked the Bloomfield batting in the morning session of play on the second day in the match at Reid Avenue.

Dilruwan who ended with impressive figures of 5 for 26 and Ishan 3 for 31 ran through the Bloomfield batting to bowl them out for a paltry 119 in reply to Colts score of 220 made on day one.

However the match is at an interestin­g stage when play stopped on the second day with Colts batting second being bowled out 138 but struck back to have Bloomfield struggling on 132 for 6 in pursuit of 240 runs for victory.

Badureliya SC having restricted the Tamil Union to 189 resuming on their overnight score of 117 for two wickets ended their innings on 205 to take a first inning lead at P. Sara Stadium.

Chilaw Marians continuing from their overnight score of 250 for 7 went on make 314 against Saracens SC whom they were bowled out for 221 to gain a first inning lead in the match played at the FTZ ground in Katunayake.

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 ??  ?? Air Force batsman Lahiru Sri Lakmal made an impressive unbeaten 54 against Ragama CC
- Pic by Ranjith Perera
Air Force batsman Lahiru Sri Lakmal made an impressive unbeaten 54 against Ragama CC - Pic by Ranjith Perera

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