Inter-Club Premier League Three-day Tournament :

Eranga (6/21) makes Ports Authority follow on

By Sajeewa Jayakody

Sri Lanka Test fast bowler Shaminda Eranga picked up career best First Class wickets in his first match for Tamil Union when Sri Lanka Ports Authority replied to home team's 353 at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

The 26-year-old right armer, who played for Chilaw Marians earlier, wrecked the Ports batting order capturing six wickets for 21 with five maidens in his 11.1 overs. Ports Authority, who fell for 136 in their first innings, were forced to follow on after left arm spinner Rangana Herath finished with two for 24.

Ports openers Shantha Kalavitigoa and Yohan de Silva had a fine 133-run partnership for the first wicket in their second innings.

It was brilliant batting by pair as they batted against current Sri Lanka national Test bowling attack comprising of Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welagedara, Shaminda Eranga and Suranga Lakmal.

The 35-year-old former Nalanda batsman was unbeaten on 60 with 10 fours and left arm fast bowler Chanaka Welagedara got the breakthrough when Nalandian Yohan de Silva was trapped lbw for 70.

At stumps, Ports Authority were still trailing 84 runs with nine wickets remaining with Kalavitigoda on 60 and Ashan Priyanjan on the crease.

Tamil Union: 353 in 86.1 overs (Kithruwan Vithanage 122, Sachithra Serasinghe 65, Mahela Udawatte 53, Wijesiriwardena 3/42, Isuru Udana 3/79, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 2/69).

Sri Lanka Ports Authority: 136 in 55.1 overs (Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 34, Shantha Kalavitigoda 25, Isuru Udana 23, Shaminda Eranga 6/21, Rangana Herath 2/24, Chanaka Welagedara 1/30) and 133/1 in 34.2 overs (Yohan de Silva 70, Shantha Kalavitigoda 60 n.o, Chanaka Welagedara 1/16).

Angelo, Kosala make centuries

NCC won by innings and 255 runs within two days against Kurunegala Youth in their Premier League three-day match played at the NCC yesterday.

Resuming overnight score of 362/4 with unbeaten batsmen, Angelo Perera on 52 and Kosala Kulaseraka on 29, NCC dominated in their home ground scoring massive 560 for seven declared.

The 23-year-old Angelo Perera, who is at his peak as one of the finest batsmen in the current domestic circuit, scored magnificent 88-ball 120 runs with 13 fours and half a dozen sixes. Perera put on a record 221-run partnership for the fifth wicket with fast bowling all-rounder Kosala Kulasekara, who cracked rapid century (103) in 69 balls.

NCC big hitting batsman Ramith Rambukwella hit huge six sixes and the 21-year-old former Royal batsman scored 51 runs in just 27 balls without hitting any four. Kurunegala, who scored pathetic 60 in the first innings started their innings with trailing massive 510 runs. Eventually, the visitors scored 245 and NCC celebrated their easy win by innings and 255.

Right arm spinner Tharindu Kaushal ran through the Youth's second innings, bagging a five wicket hall as the former Balapitiya Revatha schoolboy ended figures as five for 24. Kaushal took seven wickets in the match. Sohan Boralessa picked up a match bag of nine wickets as the right arm spinner had captured six wickets and took three scalps in the second innings.

Kurunegala Youth: 60 in 29.1 overs (DR Mahawatte 19, Noor-ul-Haq 18, Sohan Boralessa 6/13, Tharindu Kaushal 2/13, Kosala Kulasekara 2/16) and 245 in 61.1 overs (DR Mahawatte 60, Noor-ul-Haq 34, DM Sarathchandra 32, Tharindu Kaushal 5/65, Sohan Boralessa 3/72).

NCC: 560/7 decl in 80.1 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 146, Angelo Perera 120, Kosala Kulasekara 103, Upul Tharanga 85, Ramith Rambukwella 51, CD Edirisinghe 4/168).

Kaushal, Thilan shine with centuries

Kaushal Silva and Thilan Samaraweera shone with centuries in SSC's 450/9 declared innings in premier match against Chilaw Marians at the SSC grounds yesterday.

After Dimuth Karunaratne (70) and Tharanga Paranavithana (49) on the first day, Kaushal Silva scored 141 runs and Thilan Samaraweera hit 134 runs and pair added 175 runs for the third wicket. The 26-year-old wicket-keeper batsman cracked 24 fours and veteran Samaraweera hit 18 fours and a six.

Chilaw fast bowling all-rounder Umesh Karunaratne impressed with capturing seven wickets for 119 runs and the all-rounder will bat today for a rescue mission.

At the end of second day, Chilaw Marians were trail by 92 runs with seven wickets remaining with Nuwan Kavinda on 75 and Umesh Karunaratne on 18.

Chilaw Marians: 142 in 32.5 overs (AS Jayasinghe 67, Kasun Madushanka 3/33, Sachithra Senanayake 3/35, Amil Prasad 2/44) and 216/3 in 45 overs f.o. (Nuwan Kavinda 75 n.o, AS Jayasinghe 68, D Priyadarshana 36, Umesh Karunaratne 18 n.o, Sachithra Senanayake 3/73).

SSC: 450/9 decl 97.5 overs (Kaushal Silva 141, Thilan Samaraweera 134, Dimuth Karunaratne 70, Tharanga Paranavithana 49, C Gunasinghe 30, Umesh Karunaratne 7/119).