Gayan Sirisoma managed a match bag of 13 wickets as he, along with some good batting and a bit of luck steered Panadura SC to their 5th win of the season in the Tier B segment.
Panadura SC won the toss and elected to field first, with the hope of dismantling the visitors for cheap on a gloomy overcast morning.
Geshan Wimaladharma gave the visitors a good start along with Ashan Fernando. The opening pair put on 44 for the first wicket as Fernando was the first to be dismissed for 19 runs. Wimaladharma along with wicketkeeper Damidu Ashan took the visitors towards a big total.
Wimaladharma scored a magnificent 87 with 11 fours and 2 sixes as he was bowled by Gayan Sirisoma. Captain Manoj Deshapriya and Damidu Ashan scored 89 and 67 respectively taking Kaluthara Physical Culture Club past the 200 mark.
Gayan Sirisoma was the pick of the bowlers as the slow left-armer bagged 7 for 131 in 38 overs which included 7 maidens.
A middle order collapse saw the visitors slump but a late surge by Amal Buddika Peiris meant the visitors finished with 390.
In reply, Panadura SC amassed a mammoth 423 thanks to a century from Lasith Fernando. The right handed opener played an anchor role along with 16 boundaries in a scintillating 111. He was well assisted by Hasantha Fernando, the all-rounder who managed 92 as the hosts ended their innings with a slender lead of 33.
Gayan Sirisoma ran through the Kaluthara second innings finishing with 13 wickets in the game. Rasika Fernando managed a valiant 98 even though the visitors were bowled out in their second innings for 197 in just 22.5 overs.
Chasing a target of 165, the home team got off to a blistering start as the opening pair put on 96 in just 5.1 overs. Nisal Randika was the first to be dismissed as the opener managed a swift 41 off 20 balls as the hosts seemed to be going all out for the win.
From then on Aruna Dharmasena and Madawa Nimesh took the hosts close to their target through rapid scoring. Dharmasena ended with 38 off 16 balls while Nimesh scored 61 off 25 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes.
The hosts had a slight hiccup in the middle of their chase losing 5 wickets for 15 runs but reached their target of 165 within just 13.4 overs to register their fifth win of the season and take a slender lead over Ports Authority.
Brief Scores:
Kalutara Physical Culture Club 1st Innings – 390 (103) Manoj Deshapriya 89. Geshan Wimaladharma 87, Amal Buddika Peiris 77, Damindu Ashan 67, Gayan Sirisoma 7/131, Nimesh Kariyawasam 2/74
Panadura SC 1st Innings – 423 (68.3) Lasith Fernando 111, Hasantha Fernando 92, Charitha Buddhika 41, Madawa Nimesh 55, Ruchira Tharindra 5/102
Kalutara Physical Culture Club 2nd Innings -197 (22.5) Rasika Fernando 98, Manoj Deshapriya 22, Geshan Wimaladharma 20, Gayan Sirisoma 6/88, Lasith Fernando 2/51
Panadura SC 2nd Innings – 167/7 (13.4) Madawa Nimesh 61, Nisal Randika 41, Aruna Dharmasena 38, Ruchira Tharindra 3/80, Geshan Wimaladharma 2/28
Result: Panadura SC won by 3 wickets.
