In a day packed with resilient performances and hard-fought battles, five matches of the SLC U23 Emerging Club Tournament 2025 concluded in draws across various venues in the island.
The batting highlights of the day were undoubtedly the three centuries that provided stability and flair to their respective teams.
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Negombo Cricket Club’s Thathsara Eshan remained not out on 115, anchoring his side’s innings with composure and determination. Police Sports Club’s Sangeeth Shehara delivered a fluent 118, showcasing brilliant strokeplay that kept the opposition on their toes throughout the encounter.
Rounding off the centurions was Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club’s Tharindu Harshana, who notched up an unbeaten 104 against Galle Cricket Club.
While the batters grabbed headlines, the bowlers were no slouches, with several emerging with brilliant performances. Sinhalese Sports Club’s Gishan Balasooriya was the undisputed standout of the day, claiming a remarkable match bag of 10 wickets for 198 runs against Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club.
In the first innings, Balasooriya grabbed 4 wickets for 54 runs and claimed 6 wickets for 144 runs in the second innings for SSC.
Joining the elite were Shenel Samarathunga of Army Sports Club and Daham Nirmal of Nugegoda Sports & Welfare Club, both of whom scalped 6 wickets each in their respective matches.
Brief Scores
Badureliya Cricket Club – 211 (72.4) Janeth Kaushal 64, Yenula Dewthusa 60, Dinal Induwara 27, Shanikya Deshapriya 25, Vihanga Iranjana 3/58, Amila Thuruwan Perera 2/17 & 74 (44.3) Yenula Dewthusa 34, Shenel Samarathunga 6/26, Vihanga Iranjana 2/11
Army Sports Club – 214 (72.5) Amila Thuruwan Perera 52, Ashan Sudarshana 48, Dimantha Arusha 40, Umesh De Silva 20, Brian Hansaja 4/46, Sandun Mendis 3/68
Result – Match Drawn
Panadura Sports Club – 361/8d (78) Charya Paranawithana 98, Sasindu Malshan 74, Duranka Silva 65, Senitha Halambage 31, Kanchana De Livera 26, Amitha Sandeepa Perera 3/114, Shehan Pramod 3/155, Hansaja Hiruna 2/76
Negombo Cricket Club – 323/7 (102.5) Thathsara Eshan 115*, Hasindu Sewmina Kavirathne 61, Lester Jayaweera 43, Amitha Sandeepa Perera 35, Wageesha Perera 24, Mohomed Murshad 20*, Sahan Mihira 2/42, Senitha Halambage 2/67
Result – No Result
Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club – 192 (48.4) Shanuka Galagoda 69, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 33, Vihas Thevmika 25*, Gishan Balasooriya 4/54 & 352 (56) Shanuka Galagoda 77, Naren Muralidaran 74, Sineth Jayawardena 59, Kavindu Nirmana 32, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 28, Gishan Balasooriya 6/144
Sinhalese Sports Club – 344 (65.2) Chamindu Wickramasinghe 66, Dinura Kalupahana 63, Shevon Daniel 52, Ranuk Jayasuriya 43, Nadeesha Akash 42*, Sadisha Rajapaksa 26, Vihas Thevmika 4/60
Result – Match Drawn
Kandy Customs Sports Club – 195 (53.5) Pramesh Madubhashana 67, Chehan Subasinghe 39, Ayesh Shashimal 26, Sudheera Weerarathna 25, Poorna Sulakshana 4/55, Rashmika Hirushan Perera 3/32, Damith Kappagoda 2/47 & 144/6 (40) Nadun Asela Silva 44*, Chehan Subasinghe 33, Sudheera Weerarathna 21, Poorna Sulakshana 3/33
Police Sports Club – 289 (77.5) Sangeeth Shehara 118, Supun C Fernando 37*, Buddhima Sahan 27, Aveesha Samash 24, Nadun Asela Silva 2/42, Ayesh Shashimal 2/53, Janindu Chamika 2/76
Result – Match Drawn
Galle Cricket Club – 188 (53.5) Chamath Dilsara 63, Dulsith Darshana 47, Nikil Jayaweera 28, Tharinda Nirmal Guruge 8/46 & 128/7 (47) Chamath Dilsara 29, Dulsith Darshana 23, Tharinda Nirmal Guruge 3/59, Asitha Wanninayake 2/13
Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club – 318/8d (73) Tharindu Harshana 104*, Tharinda Nirmal Guruge 54, Savindu Rodrigo 51, Kaveesha Piyumal 38*, Dulaj Samuditha 24, Hasitha Suranga 3/43
Result – Match Drawn
United Southern Sports Club – 54 (16.2) Pesandu Sanjan 25, Daham Nirmal 6/19, Abdul Hakam Shirad 2/12, Pasindu Pathum 2/22 & 14/1 (8)
Nugegoda Sports & Welfare Club – 231 (60.3) Pulindu Perera 59, Abhishek Anandakumara 32, Pasindu Pathum 31, Abhisek Jayaweera 25, Daham Nirmal 23, Sithuka Gunawardana 4/60, Sasanka Nirmal 4/81, Himal Ravihansa 2/74
Stumps – Day 1
Moratuwa Sports Club – 283/5 (90) Sahan Kawshalya 97, Isula Niduwara 86*, Dumindu Sewmina 28*, Abishek Liyanarachchi 27, Dilana Damsara 3/53, Thimira Irushika 2/58
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club –
Stumps – Day 1
