By M. Shamil Amit

CCC outclassed Ragama CC by an innings and 125 runs in the Premier Tier ‘A’ Super Eight inter-club cricket encounter concluded at the Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Ground in Katunayake today (12).

Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was the architect of CCC’s victory as he ended with a match bag of eight wickets after skipper Kusal Mendis, who made a top score of 139, along with Minod Bhanuka, Wanindu Hasaranga and Ashan Priyanjan helped CCC amass a mammoth first innings score of 499 for 7 declared.

The final day’s play saw Ragama CC batting the second time and resuming from their overnight score of 4 for 2, needing another 363 runs to avoid an innings defeat. They were bowled out for 242 runs with Pushpakumara and Roshan Fernando together sharing seven wickets.

At the CCC ground, an unbeaten knock of 150 runs by Kamindu Mendis was the highlight of the third day’s play between Chilaw Marians CC and BRC which ended in a first innings win for the Marians.

Colts CC and NCC though piling up massive scores had to be satisfied with first innings wins against Saracens SC and Army SC at P. Sara Stadium and SSC.

It was run fiesta in the first round of the Super Eight, with nine tons being recorded with the best being an unbeaten 173 by Angelo Mathews followed by Kamindu Mendis (150 n.o.), Kusal Mendis (139), Santhush Gunatileke (100), Dilshan de Soysa (105 n.o.), Upul Tharanga (121), Lahiru Udara (105), Dinesh Chandimal (129) and Thulina Dilshan (116 n.o.).

Results:

At Katunayake – CCC won by innings and 125 runs

CCC 499 for 7 decl.

Ragama CC 132 and (4/2 overnight) 242 (Roshen Silva 51, Ishan Jayaratne 35, Janith Liyanage 50 n.o.: Malinda Pushpakumara 4 for 55, Ashan Priyanjan 2 for 64, Wanindu Hasaranga 2 for 66)

At CCC – First innings win for Chilaw Marians CC

Chilaw Marians CC 195 and (359/6 overnight) 385/8 decl. (Kasun Vidura 87, Thikshila de Silva 41, Kamindu Mendis 150 n.o.: Bhanuka Rajapakse 3 for 60, Duvindu Tilekeratne 2 for 71)

BRC 87 and 232 for 8 (Dilshan de Soysa 105 n.o.: Kamindu Mendis 4 for 43, Thikshila de Silva 2 for 23, Pulina Tharanga 2 for 32)

At P Sara Stadium – First innings win for Colts CC

Colts CC 408 for 6 declared (Santhush Gunatileke 100, Avishka Fernando 66, Sadeera Samarawickrama 41, Angelo Mathews 173 n.o.: Kasun Rajitha 3 for 85, Promod Maduwantha 2 for 72)

Saracens SC (113/3 overnight) 182 (Gamindu Kanishka 45, Saliya Saman 38, Navindu Vithanage 32: Nisala Tharaka 3 for 34, Dilshan Madusanka 2 for 37, Prabath Jayasuriya 2 for 41) and 106 for 3 (Navindu Vithanage 34 n.o.: Akila Dhananjaya 2 for 19)

At SSC – First innings win for NCC

Army SC 269 and 255 for 3 (Dinesh Chandimal 129, Thulina Dilshan 116 n.o.: Dilesh Gunaratne 2 for 13)

NCC (323/6 overnight) 417 for 7 declared (Upul Tharanga 121, Lahiru Udara 105, Mahela Udawatte 77 n.o.: Seekkuge Prasanna 3 for 91)