CCC and SSC in keen tussle for the title
The final round of matches of the Premier Super 8 Cricket Tournament, which will decide the champions, is turning out to be a keen tussle between table leaders CCC and SSC. The battle was evident when proceedings ended on day three at Colts CC and P. Sara Stadium yesterday.
CCC, who is leading the points table with 85.92 points, is in a strong position against NCC thanks to tons by Ron Chandragupta and Minod Bhanuka. Chandragupta cracked 118 with 17 boundaries while Bhanuka made 104 with 12 boundaries and a six. The duo shared a massive partnership of 209 runs for the second wicket.
CCC resumed their innings on day three from their overnight score of 322 for 3 and went on to make 427 runs. This was after NCC made 411 runs. NCC were 243 for 4 in their second innings when stumps were drawn.
SSC, who is in second position with 82.44 points, had a daunting task before they came into the game against Chilaw Marians. They had to record an outright win by innings if they were to lay the hands on the title. That looks impossible and with only one day of play left SSC have set a victory target of 366 runs for Chilaw Marians.
Meanwhile Promod Maduwantha of Saracens SC became the fourth player of the tournament to slam two double tons this season when he made 212 against Tamil Union in their match at the NCC.
The others to achieve this feat this season were Kaushal Silva ( SSC), Priyamal Perera ( Colts), Avishka Fernando ( Colts) and Angelo Perera (NCC). In fact Angelo’s feat of 201 and 231which was against SSC last week was an exceptional effort as he became the first ever Si Lankan cricketer to achieve this and the second ever in the world, with first being way back in 1938 by Kent batsman Arthur Fagg against Essex when he made 244 and 202 not out.