The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Major League T20 Tournament got underway around the island, with 11 matches being worked off today(24).
The most shocking result of the opening day was when Moors SC overcame a much fancied SSC outfit off the penultimate deliver of the match. The star of their three wicket win for Moors was Adeesha Thilanchana who captured three wickets with the ball before making a composed 45 with the bat.
Eranga Ratnayake’s five wicket haul gave a scare to the star studded NCC line up, as they were restricted to 120/9 in their 20 overs. A spirited comeback with the ball led by Chathuranga De Silva’s three wickets made sure NCC secured a tight 16 run win.
There were no other real surprises on the opening day with the fancied teams coming through quite comfortably while most of the top Sri Lankan players were seen in action with the triangular International T20 series not too far away.
Lasith Malinga had a decent outing picking up 2/30 off his 4 overs in NCC’s win over KTC, but most of the other top players including Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis failed to make an impression.
Chief scores ;
Lankan vs Tamil Union
Lankan Cricket Club 135/7 (20) Dinushka Malan 35, Chanaka Ruwansiri 30, Geeth Kumara 28, Suranga Lakmal 2/26, Jeewan Mendis 2/23
vs
Tamil Union Cricket And Athletic Club 138/3 (15.3) Dhananjaya de Silva 42, Kithuruwan Vithanage 27, Ramith Rambukwella 24, Shalika Karunanayake 23*, Navin Kavikara 2/25
Police vs Chilaw
Police Sports Club 121 (19.4) Srimantha Wijerathne 22,Samith Dushantha 18, Nimesh Vimukthi 18, Shehan Jayasuriya 3/24, Asitha Fernando 3/25
vs
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club 125/3 (14.4) Rohit Damodaran 56*, Thikshila de Silva 36, Dhanuka Pathirana 1/25
SSC vs Moors
Sinhalese Sports Club 137 (19.1) Dimuth Karunarathna 48, Adeesha Thilanchana 3/17
vs
Moors Sports Club 138/7 (19.5) Adeesha Thilanchana 45, Thilaksha Sumansiri 26, Sachithra Senanayaka 3/10
Panadura vs Bloomfield
Panadura Sports Club 74 (16.1) Kasun Rajitha 2/18, Ramesh Mendis 2/13, Lahiru Fernando 2/12, Lahiru Samarakoon 2/05
vs
Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club 78/0 (8.2) Nipun Karunanayake 47*, Adeesha Nanayakkara 26*
Galle vs SLPACC
Galle Cricket Club 144 (19.4) Harsha Rajapaksha 48, Ravindu Sanjana 39, Ranesh Perera 5/20, Hashan Vimarshana 2/26
vs
Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC 145/6 (17.5) Yohan de Silva 50, Lakshan Jayasinghe 2/21
NCC vs KTC
Nondescripts Cricket Club 120/9 (20) Angelo Perera 46, Farveez Maharoof 31, Chathuranga De Silva 20*, Nipuna Kariyawasam 2/23, Eranga Rathnayaka 5/20
vs
Kalutara Town Club 104 (18.4) Sameera Sandamal 29, Pasindu Madushan 26, Chaturanga de Silva 3/24, Lasith Malinga 2/30, Lahiru Kumara 2/12
Army vs Negombo
Army Cricket Club 218 (19.5) Ashan Randika 72, Janith Silva 43, Himasha Liyanage 41, Leo Francisco 25, Shehan Weerasinghe 4/33, Umega Chaturanga 2/39
vs
Negombo Cricket Club 116 (16.3) Prasansana Jayamanna 27, Janith Silva 4/22, Ajantha Mendis 2/25
BRC vs Ragama CC
Burgher Recreation Club 182/6 (20) Rumesh Buddika 57, TN Sampath 46, Raminda Wijesuriya 25, Shashin Dilranga 21, Ishan Jayarathne 2/29, Janith Liyanage 2/37
vs
Ragama Cricket Club 186/6 (19.1) Lahiru Milantha 47, Sameera de Zoysa 45*, Ishan Jayarathne 38*, Lahiru Thirimanne 22, TN Sampath 3/22
Saracens vs CCC
Saracens Sports Club 148 (20) Ruvindu Gunasekara 56, Ashen Bandara 28, Harsha Cooray 19, Sachith Pathirana 2/25, Lakshan Sandakan 2/28
vs
Colombo Cricket Club 149/4 (18.4) Dilshan Munaweera 75, Kusal Mendis 21, Andy Solomons 2/22
Colts vs Air Force
Colombo Colts Cricket Club 198/3 (20) Avishka Fernando 74, Sadeera Samarawickrama 58, Sahan Arachchige 47*, Roscoe Thattil 2/27
vs
Air Force Sports Club 141 (19.4) Shohan Rangika 21, Udayawansha Parakrama 20, Sachika Udara 20, Prabath Jayasuriya 4/17, Akila Dananjaya 2/28.
Badureliya vs Navy
Badureliya Cricket Club 163/6 (20) Sanjaya Chaturanga 59*, Dilhan Cooray 49, Shathik Nimalsha 2/40, Nuwan Sampath 2/25
vs
Navy Sports Club 100 (14.5) Nuwan Sampath 32, Buddika Hasaranga 23, Savith Priyan 2/16, Sanjaya Chaturanga 2/17, Alankara Asanka 2/21.
 Major League T20 Tournament got underway around the island, with 11 matches being worked off today(24). ){kind=link}