Kaushal, Mahela double tons, High scoring games in three matches
The completion of the third day’s play of the AIA Premier League cricket tournament saw three matches ending in high scoring games and in two of them of ether were double century knocks. The first to score a double ton was Kaushal Silva who made a 225 for SSC against CCC in the match at the Colts ground. This was his second successive double ton following the 211 he made against Moors SC last week.
Moors SC batsman Mahela Udawatta in action against Galle CC - Pic by Anurudha Bandara
Kaushal along with Minod Bhanuka put on a massive 222 runs for the third wicket. Later Minod added 181 runs for the fourth wicket with Kavindu Kulaskera before being dismissed for 120 while Kavindu remained unbeaten on 104 as SSC made a mammoth 595 for 6 declared.
CCC having ended day two on 80 for no loss resuming their innings on day three put in stiff resistance as Lasith Abeyratne and Nisham Mazahir led the fight back for CCC with the pair cracking half tons for CCC.
Lasith hit an 88 ball 78 that included five boundaries and two sixes while Nisham cracked 75 in 74 balls which had ten boundaries and two sixes and the pair added 123 runs for the fourth wicket. Nisham was involved in another stand of 64 runs with skipper Sachith Pathirana.
Down in the batting order Woshantha Silva made an unbeaten 88 however their efforts were in vain as the SSC bowlers restricted CCC to 430. SSC batting the second time ended day three on 121 for 1 for an overall lead of 286 runs.
The other double ton came from Mahela Udawatte for Moors SC who made 205 with 20 boundaries. Mahela was involved in two big partnerships after openers Oshada Fernando and Irosh Samarasooriya added 69 for the first wicket.
Mahela along with Irosh put on 164 runs stand for the second wicket and then followed it up with a 222 runs stand for the third wicket with Sachithra Serasinghe which helped Moors SC, resuming from their overnight score of 131 for 1, end day three making 497 for 5 in reply to Galle CC’s score of 300.
It was another high scoring game between NCC and Ragama CC played at the P. Sara Stadium as Udara Jayasundara along with Lahiru Milantha, Thilaksha Sumanasiri, Lahiru Thirimanne and Roshen Silva steered Ragama CC.
Ragama CC in reply to NCC’s 417 continuing from their overnight score of 158 for 1 made a bold reply of 484 for 7. Udara and Lahiru Milantha gave them a sound start putting on 97 runs.
Later Udara was associated in another partnership of 107 runs for the second wicket with Thilaksha and this was followed by a 107 runs for the fourth wicket between Thirimanne and Roshen Silva.
The match between Tamil Union and Colts CC played at Braybrooke Place was evenly poised when play stopped on day three. Colts CC continuing their second innings on 17 for 1 went on to make 338 with in form batsman Hashan Dumnidu making an unbeaten 112. This left Tamil Union a target of 302 runs they were 46 for no loss in 13 overs and they need another 256 runs when play resumes on the final day today.
At Colts:
SSC 595 for 6 declared (Kaushal Silva 225, Minod Bhanuka 120, Dimuth Karunaratne 48, Dhanushka Gunatileke 35, Kasun Madusanka 32, Kavindu Kulasekera 104 n.o.: Akila Jayasundara 3 for 112) and 121 for 1 (Dhanushka Gunatileke 43, Minod Bhanuka 58 n.o., Dimuth Karunaratne 16 n.o.)
CCC (80/0 overnight) 430 (Lasith Abeyratne 78, Nisham Mazahir 75, Sachith Pathirana 49, Kusal Mendis 42, Ron Chandragupta 40, Lakshan Sandakan 24, Woshantha Silva 80 n.o.: Kasun Madusanka 5 for 82, Dhanushka Gunatileke 2 for 77)
At R. Premadasa Stadium:
Galle CC 300 (Harsha Vithana 84, Damitha Hunukumbura 51, Rumesh Buddhika 30, Nisal Randika 29, Suraj Randiv 19, T.N. Sampath 16: Sanitha de Mel 3 for 53, Chathuranga de Silva 2 for 30, Vimukthi Perera 2 for 74, Malinda Pushpakumara 2 for 94)
Moors SC (131/1 overnight) 497 for 5 (Mahela Udawatte 205, Irosh Samarasooriya 108, Sachithra Serasinghe 89, Oshada Fernando 37, Kaushalya Gajasinghe 15 n.o.: Gayan Sirisoma 3 for 147)
At P. Sara Stadium:
NCC 417 (Sandun Weerakkody 130, Jehan Mubarak 91, Upul Tharanga 60, Isuru Udana 38, Anuk Fernando 36, Farveez Maharoof 22, Pawan Wickramasinghe 17: Sahan Nanayakkara 6 for 80, Chathura Peiris 2 for 93, Amila Aponso 2 for 105)
Ragama CC (158/1 overnight) 484 for 7 (Udara Jayasundara 96, Lahiru Thirimanne 68, Thilaksha Sumanasiri 54, Lahiru Milantha 47, Sameera de Zoysa 17, Chanaka Wijesinghe 17, Roshen Silva 122 n.o., Sahan Nanayakkara 31 n.o.: Sachintha Peiris 3 for 84, Isuru Udana 2 for 52, Tharindu Kaushal 2 for 170)
At Braybrooke Place:
Colts CC 218 (Pasindu Isira 52, Shehan Fernando 47, Angelo Jayasinghe 38, Priyamal Perera 24, Hashan Dumindu 18, Sahan Arachchige 15: Jeewan Mendis 5 for 63, Shaminda Eranga 2 for 55) and (17/1 overnight) 338 (Dilruwan Perera 69, Sadeera Samarawickrama 57, Angelo Jayasinghe 31, Shehan Fernando 15, Hashan Dumindu 112 n.o.: Dhananjaya de Silva 3 for 47, Jeewan Mendis 3 for 117, Suranga Lakmal 2 for 26, Ramith Rambukwella 2 for 43)
Tamil Union 255 (Dinuk Wickaranayake 37, Shaminda Eranga 37, Pulina Tharanga 22, Sithara Gimhan 21, Jeewan Mendis 20, Suranga Lakmal 16, Manoj Sarathchanndra 72 n.o.: Ali Khan 3 for 21, Dilruwan Perera 3 for 100, Ishan Jayaratne 2 for 51) and 46 for no loss (Dhananjaya de Silva 25 n.o., Sithara Gimhan 21 n.o.)