By M. Shamil Amit

Man in-form Santhush Gunatileke continued his batting prowess when he made a top score of 55 to help defending champions Colts CC record a comfortable four-wicket win over Moors SC to begin their Under 23 inter-club tournament campaign on a winning start Colts ground today.

Santhush’s knock enabled Colts CC, in pursuit of 152 runs, to race to the target in the 37th over.

Chilaw Marians CC, last year's runners-up, too began their campaign on a winning note with a convincing six-wicket against Panadura SC in the match played at the FTZ ground in Katunayake.

Army SC along with SSC, CCC, Badureliya CC, Negombo CC, Tamil Union, Kalutara TC and Police SC came out victorious in the other matches that were played today.

Results:

At Colts – Colts CC won by four wickets

Moors SC 151 in 36.1 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 39, Kavishka Anjula 25: Nipun Malinga 3/26, Rohan Sanjaya 2/20, Dilshan Madusanka 2/26)

Colts CC 154 for 6 in 36.2 overs (Santhush Gunatileke 55, Jehan Daniel 31, Avishka Fernando 25: Kavishka Anjula 2/41)

At FTZ Katunayake – Chilaw Marians CC won by six wickets

Panadura SC: 122 in 31.5 overs (Nipuna Deshan 21: Charuka Tharindu 3/24, Dasun Seneviratne 3/29, Kamindu Mendis 2/31)

Chilaw Marians CC: 125 for 4 in 24.3 overs (Risira Weerasuriya 22, Kamindu Mendis 66 n.o.: Pasindu Pathum 3/14)

At Panagoda – Army SC won by 60 runs

Army SC 304 in 48.2 overs (Harith Fernando 88, Bishan Mendis 79, Mahesh Theekshana 35, Pathum Kumara 24, Shehan Fernando 21: Nipun Lakshan 4/65, Sandaru Chanditha 3/37)

Nugegoda S&WC 244 in 45.4 overs (Sakuna Liyanage 72, Muditha Lakshan 69, Tashika Nirmal 34: Hashan Sandeepa 4/36, Heshan Hettiarachchi 2/40, Mahesh Theekshana 2/55)

At SSC – SSC won by seven wickets

Kurunegala YCC 170 for 8 in 50 overs (Asitha Wanninayake 25, Keshan Wanniarachchi 24, Randeera Ranasinghe 20, Sanjeewan Priyadharshana 24 n.o.: Chamindu Wickramasinghe 2/11, Kavindu Nadeeshan2/37)

SSC 173 for 3 in 37.2 overs (Nipun Dhananjaya 77, Sammu Ashan 72 n.o.)

At Reid Avenue – CCC won by eight wickets

Bloomfield 97 in 41.1 overs (Vinuja Ranpaul 35: Amshi de Silva 5/ 12, Pavan Ratnayake 2/10, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/17)

CCC 98 for 2 in 13.1 overs (Malindu Maduranga 55, Sonal Dinusha 27 n.o.)

At BRC – Badureliya CC on by four wickets

BRC 162 in 46.3 overs (Hirantha Jayasinghe 42, Nisal Fransisco 41: Thamindu Wickramaarachchi 4/11, Avishka Lakshan 3/29, Malinda Jayod 2/25)

Badureliya CC 166 for 6 in 37.1 overs (Malinda Jayod 86, Ranesh Silva 23 n.o.: Malinda Abishek 3/40)

At Katunayake – Negombo CC won by 68 runs

Negombo CC 202 in 48.2 overs (Dimuth Sandaruwan 35, Sheshan Fernando 32, Kavindu Nirmana 30, Bhanuka Manohara 25 : Ravindu Sembakkuttige 3/41, Kasun Ekanayake 2/23, Nusky Ahamed 2/42)

Air Force SC 134 in 40.2 overs (Chamikara Hewage 25, Ravindu Sembakkuttigew 25: Nishan Peiris 3/17, Hareen Weerasinghe 3/29, Chamath Wickramasinghe 3/40)

At P Sara Stadium – Tamil Union won by four wickets

Galle CC 160 in 47.4 overs (Vinura Dulsara 50, Ravishka Wijesiri 33: Deshan Fernando 2/16, Miranga Wickramage 2/28, Kavindu Pathiratne 2/31, Sachindu Colombage 2/31)

Tamil Union 165 for 6 in 27.1 overs (Navod Paranavithana 55, Kamesh Nirmal 37, Ravindu Fernando 33 n.o.: Thanula Chamod 2/21, Kushan Madusha 2/39)

At Maggona – Kalutara TC won by 79 runs on D/L

Kalutara TC 156 for 7 in 36 overs (Chinthalka Siriwardena 20, Lasindu Aroshana 20: Kavindu Udeeshwara 3/19, Bihanga Mendis 2/20)

Saracens SC 91 in 27 overs (Navindu Nirmal 21rtd: Insaka Siriwardena 2/26, Likshan Sasanga 2/26)

At Welisara – Police SC won by one run

Police SC 225 in 49.1 overs (Asel Sigera 41, Nadeera Balasuriya 38, Bawantha Udangamuwa 36, Ruvinda Dilshan 31: Akidu Karunaratne 2/37, Ameen Mishal 2/38)

Navy SC 224 for 9 in 50 overs (Bhagya Dissanayake 60, Shalith Fernando 44, Sammu Vimuth 36, Daminda Reshan 31: Tashik Perera 2/24, Nadeera Balasuriya 2/44) 

Main photo: Santhush Gunatileke helped Colts to victory in their opening match of the Under-23 limited over tournament (Nisal Baduge/Daily Mirror)