The Sunday Times Sports - Kosala and Tharaka keep NCC hopes alive

An unbroken stand of 77 runs for the seventh wicket between Kosala Kulasekera and Tharaka Kottehewa gave some life to the NCC innings to keep some hopes for the side in reaching the SSC score of 308 at the end of the second day’s play in their Under-23 Division One cricket final at the SSC grounds.

SSC had the NCC batting in tatters when play stopped for tea yesterday when they had them struggling on 129 for 5. Earlier in the innings NCC lost their openers with the score on 18 but a third wicket stand of 72 between Shan Wijeratne and Tharindu Fernando saved them from a minor collapse before the pair was separated which stemmed another as they lost three more wickets for the addition of 32 runs which put them on the back foot but thanks to the match saving partnership they lived to fight another day. Kulasekera was unbeaten on 71 which included eight boundaries while Kottehewa’s 31 had one boundary and a six.

Earlier in the day SSC resuming on their overnight score of 265 for 5 failed to take advantage of making the maximum as they lost the remaining five wickets for the addition of just 43 runs to end their innings on 308. Overnight batsman Shalika Karunanayake was able to add only a further six runs while his partner remained unbeaten on 56.

SSC - (265/5 o’night) 308 (Shalika Karunanayake 71, Damith Indika 42,Kaushal Silva 37, Radhieve Fernando 34, Hans Fernando 23, Janudika Sriyapala 56 n.o; Tharaka Kottehewa 3 for 44, Lasith Malinga 3 for 85, Chanaka Komasaru 2 for 52)

NCC - 207 for 6 (Sahan Wijeratne 37, Tharindu Fernando 37, Kosala Kulasekera 71 n.o., Tharaka Kottehewa 31 n.o; Dunil Abeydeera 3 for 55, Charith Jayaweera 2 for 30)

Moratuwa SC on course

Moratuwa SC put themselves on top at the end of the second day’s play against Kandy YCC in the Under 23 Division Two cricket final played at the Colts grounds. After giving the edge to their opponents on day one they struck back to turn the game in their favour.

After being in a comfortable position of 100 for 3 in reply to Kandy YCC’s 170 they put themselves in trouble when they lost three quick wickets for just seven runs to finish on 107 for 6.

When play began yesterday they fought their way back by taking a first innings lead and then went on to bowl out their opponents for 165 thanks to right arm pacie Sachira Fernando and left arm spinner Sanka Dinesh who combined to inflict the damage which left them a target of 166 for victory and they are now sitting pretty on 88 for 2 with a full days play left today to get another 78 runs.

Kandy YCC - 170 (R. Wickramaarchchi 75; Sachira Fernando 3 for 21) and 165 (Ravi Karunaratne 62, KasunAmarasinghe 22; Sachira Fernando 5 for 39, Sanka Dinesh 4 for 45)

Moratuwa SC - (107/6 onight) 174 ((Priyanka Soysa 48, Pathum de Mel 20, Sachira Fernando 17 n.o; Roshan Jayatissa 6 for 37, Hasitha Illangaratne 3 for 42) and 88 for 2 (Rashimal Mendis 35, Priyanka Soysa 28 n.o.)