The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Premier League Tier ‘A’ Tournament 2017/18 kicked off today (8) with five of the six matches getting underway around the island, while the SSC vs Ragama CC game was hampered by a wet outfield.
Saracens SC vs Moors SC
One of Saracens SC’s latest recruits Andy Solomons went berserk, smashing 152 off just 169 balls on the opening day of their match against Moors SC. Saracens who won the toss and elected to bat first had an early set back when their Sri Lanka born Canadian international Ruvindu Gunasekara was dismissed for a duck in the 1st over. It was all one way traffic from there on as Gamindu Kanishka got together with opener Andy Solomons and the duo put on 259 runs for the 2nd wicket before the former was dismissed for a well composed 108. Solomons hit 20 fours and 3 sixes in an entertaining knock for his new club after he made the switch from BRC last season. Right arm quick Shiran Fernando was the pick of the bowlers picking up 4 scalps as Saracens closed the day on 369/7.
Saracens Sports Club – 369/7 (89.5 overs) Andy Solomons 152, Gamindu Kanishka 108, Shiran Fernando 4/86
Moors SC
Tamil Union vs Badureliya SC
Badureliya SC who won the toss and sent in a strong Tamil Union outfit had them on the ropes at 40/3, before their lower middle order recovered well to help them put up a fighting 325/9 when stumps were drawn on the opening day. Manoj Sarathchandra was the star with the bat as he batted brilliantly with the lower order to register a fine century and remain unbeaten on 113, while jeevan Mendis chipped in with a more than valuable 77. Right arm off spinner Alankara Asanka toiled hard for his 5 wicket haul while left arm quick Dilesh Gunaratne captured 3 wickets for Badureliya SC.
Tamil Union Cricket And Athletic Club – 325/9 (90 overs) Manoj Sarathchandra 113*, Jeevan Mendis 77, Sithara Gimahana 43, Bobby Fernando 40, Alankara Asanka 5/106, Dilesh Gunaratne 3/78
Badureliya SC
BRC vs SLPACC
BRC struggled to cope with SLPACC’s spin twins Chanaka Komasaru(3/40) and Madhuka Liyanapathiranage(3/41) as the duo shared six wickets between them to bundle out BRC for just 187 runs. It could have been worse for BRC who were reeling at 67/7, before recent Sri Lanka cap Vikum Sanjaya decided to take the attack to the SLPACC bowlers. He hit 4 massive sixes and 5 fours in an enterprising knock of 51 which came off just 34 balls. SLPACC drove home the advantage as they ended the day on 75/2, trailing BRC by just 122 runs.
Burgher Recreation Club – 187 all out (65.5 overs) – Vikum Sanjaya 51, Chamikara Edirisinghe 24, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 3/41, Chanaka Komasaru 3/40
Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC – 75/2 (22 overs)
Chilaw Marians vs NCC
Chilaw Marians had plenty of trouble against left orthodox spin losing 7 wickets to it, as they were bowled out for 206 runs on the opening day of their game against NCC at the FTZ grounds in Katunayake. Former Royalist Lasith Embuldeniya was the star picking up 5/66 while the wily Angelo Perera chipped in with a couple of wickets. Kasun Vidura was the only man to provide some resistance with a defiant half century as the other batsman failed to impress on their opening hit of a new season. Chilaw Marians bowlers though fought back brilliantly to leave one of the title contenders, NCC in tatters at 114/9, with Sachithra Serasinghe and Asitha Fernando capturing three wickets apiece.
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club – 206 (53 overs) Kasun Vidura 50, Rukshan Fernanado 37, Sachithra Serasinghe 26, Lasith Embuldeniya 5/66, Angolo Perera 2/34
NCC – 114/9 (37 overs) Mahela Udwatte 46, Sachithra Serasinghe 3/21, Asitha Fernando 3/30, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/27
Colts vs Bloomfield
Colts used strange tactics on the opening day as they scored just over 2 runs per an over on their home turf to reach 201/5, when the umpires decided to call off play on the opening day of their match against Bloomfield. The biggest highlight of this match was a half century from Dilruwan Perera who walked out to the middle to open the batting for Colts, which hinted that he might be an option to open the batting for Sri Lanka in the longest format. A few late strikes from Bloomfield left the match in the balance but more importantly Hashan Dumindu was unbeaten on 61* for Colts.
Colombo Colts Cricket Club – 201/5 (90) Hashan Dumindu 61*, Dilruwan Perera 60, Sangeeth Cooray 37
Bloomfield
Ragama CC vs SSC
A wet outfield at the Welegedara Stadium in Kurunegala meant that no play was possible in what would have been a mouthwatering contest between Ragama CC and the defending champions SSC.
 Premier League Tier ‘A’ Tournament 2017/18 kicked off today (8) with five of the six matches getting underway around the island, while the SSC vs Ragama CC game was hampered by a wet outfield.){kind=link}