Navy and Army have put themselves in a strong positions to advance into the final of Under 23 Division Two cricket tournament with the two teams posting over 300 runs against Negombo CC and Kurunegala YCC in the semi final encounters played at Kurunegala and Dambulla respectively.
Rain hampered play on day two at the Welagedera Stadium in Kurunegala with occasional showers in the morning session disrupting the proceedings but even then Negombo CC were in a bad position on 64 for 4 in the 19 overs they faced during this period. On resumption after the lunch break Navy left arm spinner Dulanjala Mendis pulled the game to his side with some extraordinary bowling as he captured six wickets to restrict Negombo CC to a score of 178 with only Ramesh Lakmal put in some resistance. The opening day’s play saw Navy taking first lease of the wicket make a formidable 304 after being badly placed at 9 for 3. The recovery act came from Chanaka Ruwansiri and Pubudu Edirisinghe with the pair being associated in a valuable century stand.
Roshan and Chanaka guide Army
Roshan Jayatissa and Chanaka Silva guided Army with a 105 runs stand for the sixth wicket helping Army to take a first inning lead over Kurunegala YCC which was supported by 105 from Janith Silva.
At Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
Kurunegala YCC 107 (Chamikara Edirisinghe 25, Nuwan Alwis 18, Supun Madusanka 17: Tharindu Dharshana 4 for 42, Janith Silva 3 for 4) and 171 for 5 (Nuwan Alwis 68, Nimna Karunaratne 53, Dharshana Mahawatte 26: Tharindu Dharshana 2 for 45, Roshan Jayatissa 2 for 46)
Army (190/5 overnight) 389 (Janith Silva 105, Roshan Jayatissa 84, Saman Embilmeegama 59, Chanaka Silva 35, Charith Fernando 27, Amith Tilekratne 20: Supun Madusanka 3 for 97, Nandika Abeysinghe 2 for 42, Narada Ratnayake 2 for 43)
At Welagedera Stadium
Navy 304 (Chanaka Ruwansiri 87, Dhanushka Weerasinghe 85, Sujeewa Liyanage 34, Pubudu Edirisinghe 31: Ramesh Lakmal 7 for 60, Malshan Gunasinghe 2 for 92) and 68 for 3 (Dilan Chandima 25: Malshan Gunasinghe 2 for 22)
Negombo CC (5/0 overnight) 178 (Malshan Gunasinghe 31, Ramesh Lakmal 69 n.o.: Dulanjala Mendis 6 for 61, Lakmal Keerthiratne 2 for 15
At Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
Kurunegala YCC 107 (Chamikara Edirisinghe 25, Nuwan Alwis 18, Supun Madusanka 17: Tharindu Dharshana 4 for 42, Janith Silva 3 for 4) and 171 for 5 (Nuwan Alwis 68, Nimna Karunaratne 53, Dharshana Mahawatte 26: Tharindu Dharshana 2 for 45, Roshan Jayatiss 2 for 46)
Army (190/5 overnight) 389 (Janith Silva 105, Roshan Jayatissa 84, Saman Embilmeegama 59, Chanaka Silva 35, Charith Fernando 27, Amith Tilekratne 20: Supun Madusanka 3 for 97, Nandika Abeysinghe 2 for 42, Narada Ratnayake 2 for 43)
At Welagedera Stadium
Navy 304 (Chanaka Ruwansiri 87, Dhanushka Weerasinghe 85, Sujeewa Liyanage 34, Pubudu Edirisinghe 31: Ramesh Lakmal 7 for 60, Malshan Gunasinghe 2 for 92) and 68 for 3 (Dilan Chandima 25: Malshan Gunasinghe 2 for 22)
Negombo CC (5/0 overnight) 178 (Malshan Gunasinghe 31, Ramesh Lakmal 69 n.o.: Dulanjala Mendis 6 for 61, Lakmal Keerthiratne 2 for 15) |
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