A swashbuckling knock of 187 off just 122 balls, inclusive of 14 boundaries and 13 towering sixes, by Nuwanidu Fernando paved the way for SSC to outclass Galle CC by an innings and 188 runs, with a day to spare, in the SLC Major Club Tier ‘B’ Cricket Tournament encounter concluded at Reid Avenue yesterday.
On the second day, SSC, replying to Galle CC’s modest total of 118, resumed from their overnight score of 308-7 and went on to amass a mammoth 424 for the loss of nine wickets before declaring. The innings was underpinned by two vital partnerships, with Nuwanidu at the centre of both. He added 107 runs for the seventh wicket with Milinda Siriwardena and followed it up with a further 110-run stand for the eighth wicket alongside Kavindu Nadeeshan, effectively batting Galle CC out of the contest.
Faced with the daunting task of erasing a massive deficit of 306 runs, Galle CC folded cheaply in their second innings. They succumbed to the guile of spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who snapped up five wickets, as the visitors were bundled out for another paltry total of 123. SSC duly coasted to their second successive victory.
In the other matches played, Leo CC, Army SC, Navy SC and Negombo CC all ended the second day in strong positions. Those encounters will continue today.