Shanuka, Chamikara spin SLPA CC to victory

Left arm orthodox spin pair Shanuka Dissanayake and Chamikara Edirisinghe shared eight wickets between them to guide SLPA CC to record a convincing innings and 14 runs win over Police SC in the Premier Tier ‘B cricket encounter concluded at Sooriyawewa Stadium yesterday.

The foundation for the win was laid by another left arm orthodox spinner Chanaka Komasaru who ended with impressive figures of 5 for 35 as he along with Chamikara who ended with a four wicket haul combined to bundle out Police SC for a meager 103 runs in the first inning.

The final day’s play saw SLPA CC who ended day two on 223 for 8 making a declaration on the same score. Police SC batting the second time with a deficit of 120 runs began their innings with a sedate start of 28 runs.

But from there on the left arm spin duo Shanuka and Chamikara ran through the Police SC and had them struggling for survival with their top five batsmen back in the pavilion with just 55 runs on the board.

Only Heshan Perera who remained unbeaten on 36 put in some resistance as the others failed to come into terms with Shanuka and Chamikara and succumbed for another low score of 106 runs.

The win saw SLPA CC recording their second successive innings win having earlier overcome Navy SC by innings and three runs while it was Police SC’s third successive innings defeat in as many matches played.

Risith Upamal’s unbeaten knock of 116 enabled Kalutara TC to take a first innings lead over Kurunegala YCC when play stopped on day two in the match played at the Welagedera Stadium in Kurunegala.

Risith’s knock which came off 214 balls comprised 16 hits to the ropes and was involved in two fruitful partnerships first of 146 runs for the third wicket with Geeth Perera who made 57 and the other an unbroken 50 runs for the fourth wicket with Nipuna Gamage for Kalutara TC resuming from their overnight score of 71 for 2 were 258 for 3 when bad light put an early stoppage to play with only one over of play being possible after the tea break.

The opening day’s play saw Kurunegala YCC invited to take first lease of the wicket ending their innings with a modest score of 232 which came on the back of a knock of 111 by Ruwantha Ekanayake and a half ton by Hashan Prabath.