Kasun Rajitha takes five, Bhanuka Rajapaksa hits ton
Saracens SC failed to seize the advantage after bowling out Colombo Cricket Club for a paltry 142, losing seven wickets for 148 runs in reply on the first day of the Premier Tier A Super Eight inter- club cricket match played at the SSC grounds yesterday.
Right- arm pacers Kasun Rajitha and Saliya Saman wreaked havoc on a lively SSC pitch sharing eight wickets between them to rock CCC but a batting collapse by Saracens saw the match evenly poised going into day two. Rajitha was the chief destroyer claiming five for 63.
Opener Minod Bhanuka was the only CCC batsman to make any impression stroking a fluent 92 off 122 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and two sixes. He was associated in two valuable partnerships of 43 for the second wicket with skipper Kusal Mendis and 44 for the third wicket with Ashan Priyanjan.
However, Saracens SC failed to keep up the momentum, finding themselves on the back foot at 148 for 7 despite skipper Milinda Siriwardena’s run-a-ball 89 which contained 14 fours and two sixes.
A belligerent century by Bhanuka Rajapapkse (115 off 82 balls with 12x4, 6x6) helped BRC rattle up a formidable 316 against NCC at FTZ grounds in Katunayake.
BRC’s innings was bolstered by three productive partnerships with skipper Rajapaksa being involved in two. He shared an 81-run stand for the third wicket with Deshan Dias and 91 for the fourth wicket with Hashen Ramanayake who was also involved in a 67- run stand for the ninth wicket with Duvindu Tillakeratne (52 not out).
Openers Samindu Fernando ( 73 off 93 balls, 10x4, 1x6) and Lahiru Thirimanne (29) figured in a 105-run stand as Ragama CC made 258 against Colts CC who ended day one on 76 for 2 at the CCC ground.
A knock of 95 by Shehan Jayasuriya was the highlight of the opening day’s play in the match between Chilaw Marians CC and Army SC at P. Sara Stadium. Pulina Tharanga and Jayasuriya shared an 87-run stand for the fifth wicket to help the Marians make 269. Army SC were 5 for 2 at close.
The matches will be continued today. Meanwhile, three matches of the Premier Tier ‘A’ Plate Championship are scheduled to start today with Negombo CC meeting Badureliya SC at NCC, SSC vs Lankan CC at Colts and Tamil Union vs Moors SC at De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa.