NCC's Upul and Pavan in unbroken 198- run stand

By Sajeewa Jayakody

Skipper Upul Tharanga and middle order batsman Pavan Wickramasinghe put on an unbroken 198-run partnership for the second wicket as Nondescripts Cricket Club made 368-1 in reply to Sinhalese Sports Club's 288 on the third day in their four-day Premier League Super Eight game played at Panagoda yesterday. NCC lead by 85 runs with nine wickets remaining.

On the previous day, Tharanga and wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella laid a solid opening partnership of 170 before Dickwella departed for 87.

Tharanga's unbeaten 164 included 19 fours and a six while former Mahanama College cricketer, Wickramasinghe, who is playing in his inaugural first class tournament, was on 86 not out with 11 fours.

SSC: 288 all out in 95.3 overs (Kaushal Silva 109, Thilina Kandamby 65, Kaushalya Lokuarachchi 30, Tharanga Paranavithana 24, Upul Bandara 23, Tharindu Kaushal 4-104, Dushmantha Chameera 3-49).

NCC: 368-1 (Upul Tharanga 164 n.o, Niroshan Dickwella 87, Pavan Wickramasinghe 86 n.o.).

Tamil Union lead by 164

Openers Pabasara Waduge and Manoj Sarathchandra helped Tamil Union to lead by 164 runs making an unbeaten 114-run opening stand against Sri Lanka Army Sports Club on the third day of the four-day Premier League Super Eight match played at BOI grounds, Katunayake yesterday.

Waduge hit six fours in 95 balls while Sarathchandra struck five fours and a six in reply to Army's 226 all out in their first innings. Tamil Union made 276 runs in their first innings with Denuwan Rajakaruna (88) and Rumesh Buddika (55) making half centuries.

Earlier, Tamil Union's Chamikara Edirisinghe claimed six wickets for 66 runs as Sri Lanka Army Sports Club were dismissed for 226 runs in their first innings. That was the first five-wicket haul for former Maliyadeva College left arm spinner Edirsinghe (23).

Tamil Union: 276 all out in 84.1 overs (Denuwan Rajakaruna 88, Rumesh Buddika 55, Chanaka Welagedara 33, Pulina Tharanga 27, Pabasara Waduge 27, Manoj Sarathchandra 27, Ravindra Palliyaguruge 6-105, Shalika Karunanayake 2-28, Lahiru Madusanka 2-63) and 114-0 in 28 overs (Pabasara Waduge 55 n.o., Manoj Sarathchandra 51 n.o.).

Army SC: 226 all out in 89 overs (Mohammed Feshal 58, Shalika Karunanayake 39, Lio Fransisco 28, Chatura Damith 25 n.o, Chamikara Eidirisinghe 6-66, TN Sampath 2-35).

Lakshan's nine wickets set CCC 159-run target

CCC spinner Lakshan Rangika claimed four wickets for 86 and helped dismiss Ports Authority for 245 at NCC grounds yesterday.

Rangika had a match-bag of nine wickets with his left arm chinaman. Maduka Liyanapathiranage and Dinuka Hettiarachchi took two wickets apiece.

Colombo Cricket Club need 159 runs to win today, the last day of their four-day Premier League Super Eight match. CCC made 356 in their first innings yesterday. Ports Authority paceman Isuru Udana took an impressive 4 wickets for 72 runs with fast bowler Chaminda Bandara (3 for 64).

Ports Authority: 269 all out in 64.5 overs (Sachithra Serasinghe 78, Prashan Wickramasinghe 52, Yohan de Silva 50, Ashan Priyanjan 32, Lakshan Rangika 5-62, Chathuranga Kumara 2-26, Dinuka Hettiarachchi 2-74) and 245 all out in 58 overs (Prashan Wickramasinghe 46, Ashan Priyanjan 44, Yohan de Silva 41, Isuru Udana 38, Mahela Udawatte 34, Lakshan Rangika 4-86, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 2-36, Dinuka Hettiarachchi 2-96).

CCC: 356 all out in 86.3 overs (Chamara Silva 154, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 75, Lahiru Abeyratne 57, Isuru Udana 4-72, Chaminda Bandara 3-64, Chalanaka Weerasinghe 2-46).

At Kalutara (Day 2)

Moors: 268 all out in 81.2 overs (Kaushalya Gajasinghe 80, Janaka Gunaratne 45, Isham Ghouse 33, Harsha Cooray 32, Shehan Jayasuriya 31, Sujeewa Weerakoon 4-76, Malinga Bandara 3-28).

Ragama CC: 151-3 in 36 overs (Michael Vandort 47, Ian Daniel 41 n.o., Sameera de Zoysa 31 n.o, Malinda Pushpakumara 2-52).