Army SC defeat Bloomfield with a day to spare
Army SC defeated Bloomfield by nine wickets with a day to spare in the Premier League Super Eight cricket encounter which ended at Braybrooke Place yesterday.
Bloomfield’s Kusal Mendis drive against Army SC at Braybrooke Place - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Army SC who dominated the proceedings from day one continued to hold the whip hand as Seekkuge Prasanna’s seven-wicket haul in Bloomfield’s second innings paved the way for their victory.
Bloomfield resuming on their overnight score of 34 for 1 was let down by their batsmen despite two useful knocks coming from Kusal Mendis and Primosh Perera.
Bloomfield struggling on 127 for 4 recovered through a 79-run stand for the fifth wicket between Kusal and Dilhan Cooray but the late order batting failed to make any impression as they lost their last five wickets for the addition of only seven runs and collapsed to a score of 206.
Spinner Prasanna ended with impressive figures of 7 for 38 and Army SC set a simple run chase of 68 runs for victory raced to the target in the 11th over for the loss of just one wicket.
SLPA CC put themselves in line to record an outright win over defending champions NCC when play ended on day three at the P. Sara Oval.
In fact SLPA CC dominated proceedings from day one having made a score of 243 and then bowling out NCC for 214. SLPA CC resuming the second innings, from their overnight score of 39 for no loss, was steered by opener Dhananjaya de Silva who made a dogged innings of 127 and Ashan Priyanjan who together added a valuable 152 runs stand for the third wicket enabling them to end with a score of 281.
NCC, set a target of 311 runs for victory was in deep trouble when stumps were drawn, as they were struggling on 82 for 5 and was left with the daunting task of making another 229 runs with five wickets in hand when play begins on the final day today to achieve victory.
Tamil Union and CCC have already taken a first innings lead over Moors SC and Badureliya SC respectively in the other two matches that were played at CCC ground and R. Premadasa Stadium.
Tamil Union resuming on their overnight score of 299 for 8 went on to make 348 in reply to Moors SC while CCC after having made a score of 297 bowled out Badureliya SC for 194.
| results At Braybrooke Place: Army SC beat Bloomfield by 9 wickets |