Mineth Premaratne back to back centuries for Bloomfield
Sithuka Gunawardana ran through the Moors SC batting with five wickets
Under23 Inter-Club 2-day semi-finals
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
BRC were poised to take the crucial first innings points on the opening day of their Under23 Inter-Club 2-day semi-final match against Moors SC at the CCC grounds yesterday.
Former Isipathana College left-arm spinner Sithuka Gunawardana spun out Moors SC for 191 with figures of 5/75 for BRC. Moors SC lost their first four wickets for 76 despite opener Omesh Mendis scoring a quickfire half-century (51 off 35 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes).
Ruveen Fonseka (32) and Vishara Fernando (67 off 75 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) mounted a rescue operation adding 82 for the fifth wicket but BRC bowlers broke through again to capture the remaining five wickets for the addition of only 17 runs. Vigneshwaran Akash, the former Jaffna Hartley College leg-spinner helped himself to three wickets conceding 43 runs.
By stumps BRC had replied with 145-4 and required a further 47 runs with six wickets in hand to overtake Moors SC’s total. Opener Isuru Fernando gave them a good start with 80 off 122 balls (13 fours) sharing a second wicket stand of 86 with Kusal Wijetunga (32).
The second semi-final at Surrey grounds, Maggona was halted by rain after 59 overs with Bloomfield put into bat first by Kurunegala YCC ending the day at 243-6. Opener Mineth Premaratne followed his knock of 143 against Negombo CC five days ago by scoring another brilliant ton – 114 off 141 balls (16 fours) which has so far been the most dominant performance of the innings. Premaratne and Dineth Pahasara (33) added 80 for the third wicket. Both matches will be continued on its second day today.
It was inadvertently mentioned yesterday that Bloomfield will play Moors SC and BRC will meet Kurunegala YCC in the semi-finals. The error is regretted.