Lahiru Udara (261) of NCC and Dhananjaya de Silva (204) of CCC hit double centuries on day two of the SLC Major League Super Eight Tournament against Police SC and BRC respectively.
Udara’s majestic knock, his 17th first-class century, included 25 boundaries and four sixes and, more importantly, featured a 268-run third-wicket stand with Kamil Mishara, who made 149, as NCC, batting first, scored 631-9 declared at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Resuming from their overnight score of 386-2, the duo continued to frustrate the Police SC bowlers with some brilliant strokeplay. After Mishara fell in the 102nd over, having struck 12 boundaries and three sixes in his seventh first-class ton, Udara shared a further 100 runs with Ahan Wickremasinghe (44) to take control of the game. Left-arm orthodox spinner Dilum Sudeera was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 5 for 211. Police SC, in response, were 128-2 at stumps, still trail by 503 runs.
In the game between CCC and BRC, Sri Lanka Test skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Anjala Bandara (151n.o.) punished the hapless BRC bowlers with an imposing 282-run sixth-wicket stand. His knock, which included 21 boundaries and a six, also saw him cross the 10,000 first-class run mark. Bandara, who remained unbeaten, was in fine form, stroking 16 boundaries and three sixes during his innings. At stumps on day two at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, BRC were 124-7 in 41.3 overs, trail by 408 runs with, spinner Nishan Peiris running through the innings with a five-wicket haul.
Moors registered a first-innings lead of 93 runs against Bloomfield at the Colts ground thanks to an imposing 131-run eighth-wicket stand between captain Ramesh Mendis (96) and Milan Rathnayake (75).
In the fourth match, Ace Capital recorded a slender eight-run lead in their match against Colts at the CCC ground.
Brief Scores
At Galle: Police SC trail NCC by 503 runs
NCC (o’night 386-2) 631 for 9 (126) declared (Lahiru Udara 261, Kamil Mishara 149, Pathum Nissanka 77, Ahan Wickremasinghe 44, Niroshan Dickwella 35, Sahan Arachchige 22, Chamika Karunaratne 22; Dilum Sudeera 5/211, Supun Madushanka 2/116)
Police SC 128 for 2 (52) at stumps (Dhanuja Induwara 44n.o., Dulsha Udayanga 38n.o, Avishka Tharindu 29)
At Pallekele: BRC trail CCC by 408 runs
CCC (overnight 360-5) 532 for 6 (116.2) declared (Dhananjaya de Silva 204, Anjala Bandara 151n.o., Dulnith Sigera 81, Lasith Croospulle 37; Murvin Abinash 3/118, Yasiru Rodrigo 2/69)
BRC 124 for 7 (43.3) at stumps (Risth Upamal 35, Raminda Wijesooriya 35; Nishan Peiris 5/42 Vishwa Fernando 2/21)
At CCC: Ace Capitals lead Colts by 8 runs
Ace Capital 290 all out (77.3) (Pawantha Weerasinghe 61, Kavindu Kulasekara 61, Ranesh Silva 42, Raveen de Silva 35n.o., Kavindu Amantha 26, Isitha Wijesundara 21, Nimesha Gunasinghe 20; Akila Dananjaya 4/75, Dunith Wellalage 2/48, Udith Madushan 2/54)
Colts (overnight 10-0) 282 all out (77.1) at stumps (Angelo Mathews 63, Dunith Wellalage 60, Muditha Lakshan 50n.o., Dhananjaya Lakshan 46, Sangeeth Cooray 27; Isitha Wijesundara 4/47, Chamod Battage 3/57)
At Colts: Moors lead Bloomfield by 53 runs
Bloomfield 229 all out (72) (Jeffrey Vandersay 63, Tharindu Harshana 59, Asitha Wanninyake 36, Janith Liyanage 32; Chanuka Dilshan 4/67, Imthiyas Slaza 2/42) and 40 for 2 (9) at stumps (Kasun Abeyrathne 21; Imithiyas Slaza 2/17)
Moors SC (overnight 36-2) 322 all out (86) (Ramesh Mendis 96, Milan Rathnayake 75, Sohan de Livera 43, Shehan Fernando 32; Janith Liyanage 4/44, Duvindu Tillakaratne 3/69)