Ports Authority make bold reply

By Sajeewa Jayakody

[Group 'A']

In reply to Tamil Union's 423, Ports Authority responded with a bold reply as they were 241 for no loss at stumps on the second day at P Sara Oval on Saturday.

Left handers Mahela Udawatte and Yohan de Silva launched a rock solid start for Ports Authority hitting two unbeaten centuries with another 182-run trail with all the wickets in hand.

Udawatte (133 n.o) faced 201 balls striking 15 fours and a six while de Silva (100) hit only seven boundaries and a six.

Resuming from the overnight score of 331-6 with Tamil Union skipper Jeevan Mendis on 112 at the crease with Pulina Tharanga (42 n.o), the home team made 423 all out. Mendis fell after splendid 133 with Tharanga's effort ended at 72. Isuru Udana was the pick for Ports as left arm seamer claimed 4-109 from his angle and bounce to the right handers.

Tamil Union: 423 all out in 111 overs (Jeevan Mendis 133, Pulina Tharanga 72, Denuwan Rajakaruna 55, Kithuruwan Vithanage 39, Pabasara Waduge 21, Isuru Udana 4-109, Sachithra Serasinghe 2-45).

Bloomfield eye win

Panadura Sports Club are still trailing 33 runs as Bloomfield made 280 runs in their first innings in reply for Panadura SC's first innings total of 109. The visitors are 138-5 at stumps and today would be a decisive at Bloomfield grounds. Bloomfield were 112-4 at close on day one.

Panadura SC: 109 all out in 50.5 overs (Dinuk Wickramanayaka 33 n.o, Suraj Randiv 5-32, Imran Khan 4-32) and 138-5 in 37 overs (Rukshan Weerasinghe 48, Chatura Randunu 2-49).

Bloomfield: 280 all out in 90 overs (Adeesha Nanayakkara 50, Dilhan Cooray 42, Suminda Mendis 41, Primosh Perera 41, Julian de Zilva 3-53, Gayan Sirisoma 3-84).

Kandamy anchors SSC middle order

Thilina Kandamby anchored the struggling SSC middle order as they were at 3-53 one stage. Kandamby using his vast domestic cricketing experience propped up the home team putting on two invaluable stands.

The left hander added 90 runs for fourth wicket with one drop Vishva Wijeratne (50) and another 70 odd runs for the fifth wicket with Dasun Shanaka (unbeaten 43) before Kandamby fell for 82. SSC are 220-5 at the end of second day's play at SSC grounds in reply for Ragama CC's challenging first innings total of 417.

Ragama CC: 417 all out in 118 overs (Ian Daniel 127, Udara Jayasundara 112, Charith Fernando 36 n.o, Sameera de Zoysa 30, Danushka Gunatilleke 4-88, Dhammika Prasad 2-49, Kaushalya Lokuarachchi 2-89).

SSC: 220-5 in 57 overs (Thilina Kandamby 82, Vishva Wijeratne 50, Dasun Shanaka 43 n.o, Tharanga Paranavithana 31, Nilanka Premaratne 3-45).

[Group 'B']

Chamara Silva ton helps first innings lead for CCC

CCC gold guns put on a brilliant effort to lift the side for an first innings lead against NCC in their match played at NCC grounds. In reply to NCC's 242 all out, CCC's experienced campaigners Chamara Silva made 103 off 159 deliveries hitting eight fours and two sixes while India de Saram and Hasantha Fernando contributed with blistering half centuries.

Fernando is unbeaten on 78 at the crease after his resistant-packed knock came from 159 balls striking only three fours and a six. Earlier, De Saram smashed 65 from 86 including seven fours and a six and CCC are at 307-9 at stumps.

NCC's spin duo, Tharindu Kaushal and Sohan Boralessa, who lifted the side with the bat on first day, shared five wickets for the hosts.

NCC: 242 all out in 85 overs (Tharindu Kaushal 77 n.o, Lahiru Udara 48, Sohan Boralessa 44, Angelo Perera 32, Dilesh Gunaratne 4-55, Chathuranga Kumara 2-38).

CCC: 307-9 in 93 overs (Chamara Silva 103, Hasantha Fernando 78 n.o, Indika de Saram 65, Chaminda Vidanapathirana 3-32, Tharindu Kaushal 3-78, Sohan Boralessa 2-86).

Army edge Colts

Army Sports Club made a good first innings total of 361 in reply to Colts' 192 all out having recorded a 169-run first innings lead in their match played at Colts grounds. Colts in their second innings, were 124-4, with still 45 runs behind Army.

Resuming from 137-2, Army made their commanding total with the help Mohammed Feshal's 86 and Seekkuge Prasanna's 39-ball 44 runs (five sixes and two fours) with two 30s in the tail.

Colts: 192 all out in 45.2 overs (Thisara Perera 72, Milinda Siriwardena 37, Sachith Pathirana 30, Bhanuka Rajapakse 19, Janith Silva 4-40, Seekkuge Prasanna 2-44) and 124-4 in 32 overs (Milinda Siriwardena 38, Bhanuka Rajapakse 34, Roshen Silva 29 n.o, Roshan Jayatissa 2-22).

Army: 361 all out in 99.5 overs (Mohammed Feshal 86, Seekkuge Prasanna 44, Chatura Damith 36, Manjula de Zoysa 34, Dilan Soysa 32, Sachith Pathirana 4-103, Ishan Jayaratne 3-62, Akila Dhananjaya 2-46).

Moors in a massive 223-run lead

Moors are in a massive 223-run lead against Air Force at the second day's stump in their match played at Braybrooke Place.

The home team, who were at 359-9 overnight, bowled out for 380 with overnight batsman Dilhara Lokuhettige as unbeaten on 119. In their first innings, Air Force collapsed to 229 as Janaka Gunaratne and Malinda Pushpakumara wrecked the airmen batting order. Moors got off to a flying start with opener Shehan Jayasuriya, who was unbeaten on 39 from 33 balls.

Moors: 380 in 94.3 overs (Dilhara Lokuhettige 119 n.o, Isham Ghouse 48, Harsha Cooray 47, Oshada Fernando 43, Lasanda Rukmal 4-110, Dusan Vimukthi 3-54, Akila Isanka 2-79) and 72-1 in 13 overs (Shehan Jayasuriya 39 n.o).

Air Force: 229 all out in 68 overs (Achira Eranga 74, T Nadeera 60, Lahiru Sri Lakmal 36, Janaka Gunaratne 5-80, Malinda Pushpakumara 3-59).