The 6th week of the SLC Major League Tournament 2022 began today (23rd September), as 12 new matches kicked off as usual.
The opening day of the 6th week matches saw a total of nine tons being scored, while only two bowling performances of 5 or more wickets were recorded. Interestingly, nine out of the twelve games saw 300-plus runs being scored in the allotted 90 overs for the day with impressive scoring rates.
Lankan CC had a brilliant day 1 against BRC as they amassed 323 for the loss of just 3 wickets after being put into bat first. Desperate for more points to move up in the points table, the Lankans were given a huge boost by the two tons of Prasansana Jayamanne and Deshan Dias. Dias scored 130, while Jayamanne remained unbeaten on 138.
Moors SC also scored more than 300 as Pasindu Sooriyabandara’s unbeaten 123 helped them reach 336 for 5 at stumps against SSC at SSC Grounds. Minod Bhanuka’s 105 and Vishva Wijeratne’s unbeaten 102 guided CCC and Kandy Customs to get to 355 and 321 respectively. Kandy Customs are currently placed last in Group A, and this game against Ragama CC is very crucial for them.
The second highest wicket-taker of the tournament, the ambidextrous Tharindu Ratnayake, claimed yet another haul of 6 wickets for Sebastianites C & AC as his performance helped them restrict Kalutara TC for 210.
GROUP A
Lankan CC vs BRC at Panadura Esplanade
Toss: BRC
Lankan CC – 323/3 (91) Prasansana Jayamanne 138*, Deshan Dias 130, Geeth Kumara 36
Stumps Day 1
SSC vs Moors SC at SSC Grounds, Colombo
Toss: Moors
Moors SC – 336/5 (90) Pasindu Sooriyabandara 123*, Sohan De Livera 70, Kavindu Kulasekara 39, Pabasara Waduge 38, Ramesh Mendis 33, Nisala Tharaka 2/65, Prabath Jayasuriya 2/85
Stumps Day 1
CCC vs Kurunegala Youth CC at CCC Grounds, Colombo
Toss: CCC
CCC – 355/8 (90) Minod Bhanuka 105, Kamindu Mendis 82, Nimesha Gunasinghe 61, Lasith Abeyratne 48, Chamindu Wijesinghe 24*, Asitha Wanninayake 3/64, Sakidu Wijerathna 3/92
Stumps Day 1
Ragama CC vs Kandy Customs CC at Thurstan College Grounds, Colombo
Toss: Ragama
Kandy Customs CC – 321 (87.3) Vishva Wijeratne 102*, Imesha Udayanga 67, Irosh Samarasooriya 39, Janith Liyanage 3/54, Hareen Rathnamudali 2/39, Eshan Malinga 2/97
Stumps Day 1
Sebastianites C & AC vs Kalutara TC at Moors Grounds, Colombo
Toss: Kalutara
Kalutara TC – 210 (63.2) Sukitha Manoj 49, Dineth Munasinghe 30, Sawan Kankanamge 28, Yesith Rupasinghe 25, Tharindu Ratnayake 6/78
Sebastianites C & AC – 102/3 (30) Vimud Sapnaka 31*, Lohan De Zoysa 28
Stumps Day 1 – Sebastianites trail by 108 runs
Police SC vs Colts CC at Police Grounds, Colombo
Toss: Police
Colts CC – 315/8 (89.2) Dhananjaya Lakshan 78, Hashan Dumindu 75, Avishka Perera 53, Vishad Randika 45, Dunith Wellalage 34, Nalin Priyadarshana 4/108, Supun Madushanka 2/60
Stumps Day 1
Heshan Danushka’s double ton help Police record first innings win over Ragama
Group B was lightened up by a blistering Vishva Chathuranga century, as the left-handed wicket-keeper batter amassed 172 in 182 deliveries for Chilaw Marians CC in his first game of the tournament. The Chilaw Marians ended the day on 367 for 4 as they took on Bloomfield C & AC, who are desperate for points with them sitting at the bottom of the table. The highest run-scorer of the recently concluded limited overs tournament, Kasun Vidura, scored a century for Chilaw Marians as well.
All-rounders Mishen Silva and Ravindu Fernando recorded tons for Air Force SC and Tamil Union C & AC respectively. Air Force were bowled out for 356 playing against Nugegoda S & WC, while Tamil Union playing against Negombo CC will continue from 348/7 tomorrow.
In contrast to most of the other games, the game in Katunayake between Ace Capital CC and Army SC saw a staggering number of 23 wickets falling on day 1. Apart from the 2 wickets taken by Ace Capital seamer Nimsara Atharagalla in the first innings, all other wickets were taken by spinners. The highest-wicket taker of the tournament, Kaumal Nanayakkara, had a great outing as he claimed yet another 6-wicket haul to help Army restrict the hosts for 82, in reply to Army’s modest first innings score of 133. The day ended with Army on 46 for 3 in their second innings, leading by 97 runs.
GROUP B
Bloomfield C & AC vs Chilaw Marians CC at Bloomfield Grounds, Colombo
Toss: Chilaw Marians
Chilaw Marians CC – 367/4 (90) Vishva Chathuranga 172, Kasun Vidura 113, Gaurav Jathar 25*, Raveen Yasas 22*, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 4/107
Stumps Day 1
Nugegoda S & WC vs Air Force SC at De Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa
Toss: Air Force
Air Force SC – 356 (80.2) Mishen Silva 102, Roscoe Thattil 71, Supeshala Jayathilake 57, Movin Subasingha 47, Udayawansha Parakrama 27, Dulanjana Mendis 23*, Ranitha Liyanarachchi 3/33, Qaiser Ashraf 2/59, Sahan Nanayakkara 2/83
Nugegoda S & WC – 8/1 (7)
Stumps Day 1 – Nugegoda trail by 348 runs
Tamil Union C & AC vs Negombo CC at P. Sara Oval, Colombo
Toss: Negombo
Tamil Union C & AC – 348/7 (90) Ravindu Fernando 105, Ron Chandraguptha 70, Dilum Sudeera 50*, Navod Paranavithana 46, Kamesh Nirmal 40, Upul Indrasiri 3/101, Chanura Fernando 2/79
Stumps Day 1
Ace Capital CC vs Army SC at BOI Grounds, Katunayake
Toss: Ace Capital
Army SC – 133 (47.4) Shehada Zoysa 39, Lasith Croospulle 3/13, Wanuja Sahan 2/23, Nimsara Atharagalla 2/33, Roshan Jayatissa 2/43 & 46/3 (14) Thulina Dilshan 30*, Wanuja Sahan 3/10
Ace Capital CC – 82 (23.3) Pramud Hettiwatte 28*, Kaumal Nanayakkara 6/33, Hashan Sandeepa 3/30
Stumps Day 1 – Army lead by 97 runs
Navy SC vs NCC at Navy Grounds, Welisara
Toss: Navy
Navy SC – 129 (54.2) Supun Leelaratne 45, Sahan Arachchige 3/23, Lasith Embuldeniya 3/45, Ashian Daniel 2/14
NCC – 130/3 (38.5) Vinuka Rubasinghe 66*, Sahan Arachchige 18*
Stumps Day 1 – NCC lead by 1 run
Saracens SC vs Badureliya SC at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
Toss: Saracens
Saracens SC – 232/7 (90) Sithara Gimhan 82, Milinda Siriwardana 36*, Navindu Vithanage 34, Lahiru Gamage 2/38, Anuk Fernando 2/39, Chalana De Silva 2/72
Stumps Day 1
All 12 games will resume tomorrow for the second day’s play.
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