Superb double by Tamil Union's Nisala Tharaka

By Sajeewa Jayakody

With outstanding all-round performance of Nisala Tharaka, Tamil Union, who set a victory target of 111, are 43 for no loss by second day's stump in their U-23 match against Colts Cricket Club played at Colts grounds yesterday.

Colts were bowled out for pathetic 96 runs in their first innings as Nisala Tharaka took a five wicket haul (5/35). Tamil Union made 280 for the first innings. Kithuruwan Vithanage scored 82 and Nisala Tharaka batted brilliantly to make a 63-ball 53 runs with eight fours and two sixes.

In their second innings, Colts made 294 and batsman Supechala Jayatilleke made a plundering century as the left hander smashed 156 runs with 13 fours and four sixes. Jayatilleke shared a 129-run partnership with Akila Dhananjaya, who chipped in with a half century (50).

Colts: 96 in 20.5 overs (Dushan Hemantha 22, Chathuranga Kumara 21, Nisala Tharaka 5/35, Tineth Manishka 4/48) and 294 in 78.3 overs (Supechala Jayatilleke 156, Akila Dhananjaya 50, Bhanuka Rajapakse 41, Nisala Tharaka 4/54, Tineth Manishka 2/59).

Tamil Union: 280 in 60.5 overs (Kithuruwan Vithanage 82, Nisala Tharaka 53, Manoj Sarathchandra 44, Chamikara Edirisinghe 25, Akila Dhananjaya 4/63, Chathuranga Kumara 3/82, Nuwan Karunaratne 2/51) and 43/0 in 10 overs (Manoj Sarathchandra 24 n.o)

Ramith wrecks CCC

Much spoken Sri Lanka 'A' player, Ramith Rambukwella picked up six wickets as CCC were bowled out 151 runs against NCC in another U-23 match played at the NCC grounds yesterday. NCC set 115 runs to win and were no loss for naught for one over by second day's stump.

Rambukwella from his right arm off spin removed six batsmen giving away just 26 runs after the home team scored 178 runs in their first innings. In the second innings, NCC's Tharindu Kaushal took six wickets and confined CCC for 142.

CCC: 151 in 68 overs (Dinuka Jayasinghe 47, Lasith Abeyratne 41, Ramith Rambukwella 6/26, Amrith Srimahan 2/28) and 142 in 43.2 overs (Mohamed Akram 38, Lasith Abeyratne 32, Maduka Liyanapathirana 21, Tharindu Kaushal 6/37).

NCC: 178 in 72.1 overs (Lahiru Udara 57, Duleeka Tissakuttige 39, Maduka Liyanapathirana 4/35, Lakshan Rangika 5/62) and 0/0 in 1 over.

Nipun a superb 185

Nipun Karunanayake smashed 185 runs in Bloomfield's mammoth 432/9 declared first innings total against Negombo Sports Club on the second day in the SLC Under-23 Division I Cricket Tournament match played at Kadirana yesterday.

Malshan Gunasinghe excelled for Negombo SC taking six for 133. Negombo SC were bowled out for 203 runs in their first innings. Malshan Gunasinghe scored 52.

Negombo SC: 203 in 71.1 overs (Malshan Gunasinghe 52, Shiran Anuruddha 35, Shiranga Wijesuriya 33, Shihan Madusanka 28, Vishwa Fernando 4/57, Ruwinda Shamen 3/29, Adeesha Nanayakkara 2/12) and 37/2 in 12 overs.

Bloomfield: 432/9 decl in 92 overs (Nipun Karunanayake 185, Adeesha Nanayakkara 100, Chalitha Kumarasinghe 50, Sanjeewa Salgado 32 n.o, Malshan Gunasinghe 6/133, Lahiru Wickramasinghe 3/70).

Moratuwa SC on top

Moratuwa Sports Club are in a commanding position after Malinga de Silva's brilliant all-round performance and cracking century of Sangeeth Cooray in another match against Leo Sports Club played at de Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa yesterday. Batting first, Moratuwa SC piled up 432/7 declared with Cooray hitting 125 runs. Leo SC collapsed to 189 as right arm off spinner Malinga de Silva ripped through the Leo batting line up bagging seven wickets for 62 after his unbeaten 23 runs with the bat.

Moratuwa SC: 432/7 decl in 111 overs (Sangeeth Cooray 125, Danuka Madushan 50, Shanuka Dulaj 70, Heshan Kumarasiri 53, Hasitha Lanka 29, Malinga de Silva 23 n.o, Buddhika de Alwis 20 n.o, Dushan Vimukthi 4/158, Thenuka Dhananjaya 2/86).

Leo SC: 189 in 48.5 overs (Daminda Ashan 50, Madushan Nimesh 29, Dushan Vimukthi 29, Aruna Dharmasena 20, Asanka Gihan 27, Janishka Premasinghe 20 n.o, Malinga de Silva 7/62, Sidath Vimukthi 2/66) and 88/2 in 20 overs (Udara Munasinghe 27, Daminda Ashan 47).

Moors in command

Moors are leading 245 with eight wickets in hand as opener Asad Boraham unbeaten on 37 adding his first innings of 175 runs against Air Force in another U-23 match played at Riffle Green yesterday.

Boraham cracked 175 runs in the first innings and put on a 135-run stand for the fifth wicket with Kaushalya Gajasinghe, who scored 90-ball 79. Air Force made 260 in their first innings innings.

Moors: 373 in 79.1 overs (Asad Boraham 175, Kaushalya Gajasinghe 79, Aravinda Premaratne 33, Sameera Wanigasekara 3/70, Aravinda Perera 2/65) and 129/2 in 21 overs (Asad Boraham 37 n.o, Oshada Fernando 33 n.o, Shehan Jayasuriya 32, Hasitha Wickramasinghe 2/23).

Air Force: 260 in 74.3 overs (T Nadeera 75, Angelo Emmanuel 60 n.o, Nipun Pavithra 51, Kaushalya Gajasinghe 4/74, Chamath Gunasinghe 4/65).

Army vs Sinha SC at Panagoda

Army: 153 in 54.3 overs (Kaushalya Illukwatte 49, Lakshitha Madushan 47, Dileepa Gayashan 20, Ramesh Mendis 4/67, Maduranga Priyadarshana 4/25, Duminda Kannangara 2/28) and 227/7 in 63 overs (Lakshitha Madushan 81, Janith de Silva 35 n.o, Dulaj Vijithakumara 31, Ramesh Mendis 3/61, Sachika Udara 3/55).

Sinha SC: 161 in 64.5 overs (Ramesh Mendis 38, Chalitha Helambage 26, Lakshan Madusanka 4/43, Janith de Silva 3/43, Lakshitha Madushan 2/10).