The 2019/20 Sri Lankan domestic season kicked off on the 15th December 2019 with the SLC Invitation Limited-Over tournament featuring 25 clubs competing in 4 different groups. The opening day of the tournament saw 11 games being worked off while one of them had to be called-off due to unsuitable ground conditions.
Group A
All 6 teams in Group A were in action today with 2 matches being played in Colombo and the other being played at the brand new SL Army Ordnance Corps International Cricket Stadium in Dombagoda, Horana.
The home team, Army SC started their campaign on a winning note in Dombagoda as they Badureliya CC comfortably by 5 wickets. All-rounder Dushan Vimukthi’s 84 in their run-chase was the stand out performance of the game.
The rejuvenated Negombo CC team led by national cap Dilshan Munaweera, who was at CCC last season, beat BRC convincingly by 6 wickets at BRC grounds. Skipper Munaweera started his tenure on a high scoring 62 in the run-chase. Shanuka Dulaj impressed with an isolated 75 for the home team.
SSC eased past Lankan CC by 61 runs thanks to an unbeaten century from star batsman Charith Asalanka. Asalanka’s 119* helped SSC post a match-winning total of 272 before their bowling attack led by skipper Dammika Prasad bundled out the Lankan boys for 211. Ambidextrous Tharindu Ratnayake starred with his all-round skills capturing 3 wickets after a useful knock of 44.
Army SC vs Badureliya CC
Toss – Army SC
Venue – SL Army Ordnance Corps International Cricket Stadium, Dombagoda
Badureliya CC – 184 (48.5) Buddika Sanjeewa 33, Vaibhav Mali 25, Bravish Shetty 22, Lahiru Samarakoon 21, Janith Silva 3/22, Heshan Hettiarchchi 2/27, Shihan De Silva 2/34, Lahiru Wijetunga 2/50
Army SC – 188/5 (40.1) Dushan Vimukthi 84, Lakshan Edirisinghe 69, Buddika Sanjeewa 3/38
Army SC won by 5 wickets
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BRC vs Negombo CC
Toss – Negombo CC
Venue – BRC Cricket Ground, Colombo
BRC – 155 (43.4) Shanuka Dulaj 75, Lasith Lakshan 25, Laksitha Rasanjana 3/36, Upul Indrasiri 2/25, Madawa Warnapura 2/33
Negombo CC – 156/4 (28.4) Dilshan Munaweera 61, Ashen Silva 28, Duvindu Tillakaratne 2/20
Negombo CC won by 6 wickets
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SSC vs Lankan CC
Toss – Lankan CC
Venue – SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo
SSC – 272/8 (50) Charith Asalanka 119*, Tharindu Ratnayake 44, Nuwanidu Fernando 35, Sammu Ashan 33, Keshan Wijerathne 3/48
Lankan CC – 211 (44.3) Keshan Wijerathne 39, Geeth Kumara 35, Kasun Abeyratne 30, Tharindu Ratnayake 3/31, Dhammika Prasad 2/29, Sachithra Senanayake 2/43, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/46
SSC won by 61 runs
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Group B
Group B, which has 7 teams, saw just 4 teams taking the field today. SL Ports Authority surprised everyone as they beat CCC in their own backyard by a commanding margin of 7 wickets with 30.5 overs remaining. Their bowling attack led by veteran spinner Chanaka Komasoru first bowled out the Colombo boys for a mere 65 and then chased down the target losing just 3 wickets as Prashan Wickramasinghe remained unbeaten on 27.
NCC at their home ground, successfully defended the 299 runs they made against Police SC to beat them by 98 runs. Mahela Udawatte and Angelo Perera starred with the bat scoring half-centuries while young leggie Sachindu Colombage and all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne led the bowling picking up 3 wickets apiece. Foreign players Nisar Ahmed and Vinith Indulkar were the best contributors for Police SC despite their loss.
CCC vs SL Ports Authority CC
Toss – SL Ports Authority CC
Venue – CCC Cricket Ground, Colombo
CCC – 65 (27.1) Malindu Maduranga 16, Mithila Aravinda 3/16, Chanaka Komasaru 3/10, Hashan Vimarshana 2/16, Chaminda Bandara 2/19
SL Ports Authority CC – 70/3 (19.1) Prashan Wickramasinghe 27*, Nuwan Thushara 2/10
SL Ports Authority CC won by 7 wickets
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NCC vs Police SC
Toss – Police SC
Venue – NCC Cricket Ground, Colombo
NCC – 299/7 (50) Mahela Udawatte 82, Angelo Perera 71, Lahiru Udara 45, Sahan Arachchige 31*, Nisar Ahmed 3/67
Police SC – 201/9 (50) Vinith Indulkar 56, Manjula Jayawardhana 30, Asel Sigera 26*, Sachindu Colombage 3/38, Chamika Karunarathna 3/48
NCC won by 98 runs
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Group C
Group C also saw all 6 teams of the group playing their first games respectively. Bloomfield C & AC led by veteran Chamara Silva, who led Moors SC last season, defeated Saracens with ease as Milinda Siriwardana’s and Sithara Gimha’s efforts with the bat proved to be insufficient. After Thomian Madushan Ravichandrakumar’s 3-wicket haul which restricted the opposition for 188, Bloomfield C & AC cruised to victory with the help of an unbeaten half-century by their new skipper.
All-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan once again announced himself as a genuine prospect to represent Sri Lanka as a fast-bowling all-rounder scoring a quick-fire century batting at number 6. His knock which included 7 fours and 9 sixes helped Colts CC amass 319 before they defended it successfully bowling out Navy SC for 143. Prabath Jayasuriya claimed 3 wickets for Colts CC while Akila Dananjaya returned to the domestic circuit with figures of 2 for 31.
In the other game of the group, Panadura SC managed to beat Kurunegala Youth CC by 17 runs according to the DLS method in Panadura. Pakistani Kashef Naved’s 62 proved to be vital for Panadura at the end as Navin Kavikara’s 4-wicket haul for the visitors wasn’t enough. Sithum Dassanayake led Panadura’s charge with the ball claiming 4 wickets to keep Kurunegala Youth CC for 188.
Bloomfield C & AC vs Saracens SC
Toss – Saracens SC
Venue – Bloomfield Cricket Ground, Colombo
Saracens SC – 188 (45) Sithara Gimhan 66, Milinda Siriwardana 60, Madushan Ravichandrakumar 3/33, Dileepa Jayalath 2/37
Bloomfield C & AC – 192/5 (46.3) Chamara Silva 51*, Sachin Jayawardena 34, Harsha Vithana 32, Milinda Siriwardana 2/42
Bloomfield C & AC won by 5 wickets
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Colts CC vs Navy SC
Toss – Navy SC
Venue – Colts Cricket Ground, Colombo
Colts CC – 319/6 (50) Dhananjaya Lakshan 106*, Vishad Randika 72, Hashan Dumindu 43, Sadeera Samarawickrama 33, Dilanka Auwardt 2/66, Savindu Pieris 2/74
Navy SC – 143 (42.2) Savindu Pieris 27, Tharusha Fernando 25, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/35, Nipun Malinga 2/23, Akila Dananjaya 2/31
Colts CC won by 176 runs
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Panadura SC vs Kurunegala Youth CC
Toss – Kurunegala Youth CC
Venue – Panadura Esplanade
Kurunegala Youth CC – 188 (46.5) Lahiru Jayarathna 34, Jeewan Viraj 34, Chaturanga Dikkumbura 25, Keshan Wanniarachchi 24, Sithum Dissanayaka 4/31, Dulanjana Mendis 3/33
Panadura SC – 176/7 (41) Kashif Naved 62, Vishwa Chaturanga 36, Nipun Lakshan 33*, Navin Kavikara 4/19
Panadura SC won by 17 runs (DLS method)
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Group D
Despite all teams in Group D taking the field only 4 teams were allowed to play as the game between Moors SC and Nugegoda S & WC had to be abandoned due to a wet outfield at Moors Grounds.
Tamil Union C & AC hosting Air Force SC was shocked by the Airmen as they registered a 25 run win according to the DLS method. After restricting the hosts which had West Indian national cap Kieran Powell for 171, Air Force SC were 6 down and just 13 runs away from victory with 8.2 over remaining when play had to be stopped. Madhawa Nimesh, who was unbeaten on 30 saw through Air Force SC towards victory while Lakshan Fernando top-scored with 41. In bowling for the visitors, Lasanda Rukmal and Ravindu Sanjana picked up 3 wickets each as Prasansana Jayamanna and Powell scored half-centuries for the home team. Sadish Pathiranage bagged 3 out of the 6 Air Force wickets which fell in their run-chase.
Ragama CC dismantled Kalutara TC in Maggona as they started their campaign with an easy 7 wicket win. Udara Jayasundera starred with both bat and ball bagging 4 wickets and scoring 44 runs.
Tamil Union C & AC vs Air Force SC
Toss – Air Force SC
Venue – P. Sara Oval, Colombo
Tamil Union C & AC – 171 (44.1) – Prasansana Jayamanna 63, Kieran Powell 59, Lasanda Rukmal 3/22, Ravindu Sanajana 3/40
Air Force SC – 159/6 (41.4) – Lakshan Fernando 41, Madhawa Nimesh 30*, Udayawansa Parakrama 24, Sadish Pathiranage 3/36
Air Force SC won by 25 runs (DLS method)
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Kalutara TC vs Ragama CC
Toss – Ragama CC
Venue – Surrey Village Ground, Maggona
Kalutara TC – 87 (27.1) Eranga Rathnayaka 22, Udara Jayasundera 4/11, Nishan Pieris 3/33
Ragama CC – 90/3 (22.1) Udarara Jayasundera 44, Sameera De Zoysa 27*
Ragama CC won by 7 wickets
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Moors SC vs Nugegoda S & WC
Venue – Moors Ground, Colombo
Match abandoned without a ball bowled due to wet ground conditions
