Melan Hansaka (6/36) has placed Chilaw Marians CC in a position to win
It will be a battle royal for the eight quarter-final places when the final card of group matches commence today in the Under23 Inter-Club 2-day tournament.
Ten matches are down for decision with the Chilaw Marians CC v Galle CC game having begun at the Moratuwa Stadium yesterday.
According to the current standings Moors SC from Group A, CCC from Group B, Kurunegala YCC and BRC from Group C and SSC from Group D have assured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals leaving the remaining three places to be decided after the matches beginning today.
Quite an interesting tussle will be in the Group A match between second placed Bloomfield (43.830 points) and third placed Tamil Union (36.930) at the P Sara Oval. The winning team will join Moors SC from the group to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Second placed Negombo CC and third placed Panadura SC are battling for a place from Group D. Negombo CC (46.510) play Police SC at Air Force grounds, Katunayake, while Panadura SC (44.230) have a tough assignment on their hands when they meet group leaders SSC at the SSC grounds. Kandy Customs SC (34.340) who are lying fourth have an outside chance if they can pull off an outright win against Kurunegala SC at the Welagedara Stadium.
The battle for the third quarter-final place is between second placed Chilaw Marians CC (35.305) and third placed Leo CC (27.755) from Group B. Chilaw Marians CC have already grabbed first innings points from Galle CC and will look to convert it into an outright win which will certainly assure them of a quarter-final place. Dismissed for 142, Chilaw Marians CC bounced back to rout Galle CC for 80 and gain a first innings lead of 62 which they have stretched to 87 by closing day one at 25-1. Spinners Melan Hansaka (6/36) and Thimira Irushika (4/19) ran through the Galle CC batting. In the batting Darshaka Sandeep (54 off 67 balls, 8 fours) top scored for Chilaw Marians CC and spinner Manitha Rajapaksha took 5/44 for Galle CC. The match continues today.
Meanwhile, Leo CC has to come out with something special to beat group leaders CCC at the CCC grounds to have any chance of qualifying. The other matches starting today are: United Southern SC v NCC at NCC grounds, Moors SC v Ragama CC at Moors grounds, Ace Capital CC v BRC at BRC grounds and Nugegoda SWC v Navy SC at Panadura. –