SLC MAJOR CLUB 3-DAY LEAGUE Defending champions Bloomfield start season with a loss

DEFENDING champions Bloomfield were at the receiving end of CCC when they lost their Major Club 3-Day League game in the first innings at the Galle Cricket Stadium yesterday.

- By Sa’aDi THAWFEEQ

In reply to CCC’s tall first innings score of 404-9 declared, Bloomfield could only respond with 202, and that too largely due to their number eight batter Lahiru Madushanka, who lifted them from 56-7 to their final total with a sturdy knock of 92 off 135 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes). Leftarm seamer Vishwa Fernando was the pick of the CCC bowlers, taking 4/47. By stumps brought forward by bad light, CCC scored 57-2.

Last year’s runner-up to Bloomfield, NCC, on the other hand, got the better of Ace Capital CC to win on first innings at the SSC Grounds to get their campaign started.

Ace Capital CC fell 45 runs short of NCC’s first innings of 333 when they were dismissed for 288, with Wanuja Sahan (120 off 133 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) being the last wicket to fall. Chamika Karunaratne took 4/69 with his mediumpacers. In NCC’s second innings of 206-9 declared, Kavin Bandara, the former DS Senanayake southpaw, made use of the opportunity to score a century (102 off 136 balls, 14 fours), while Sahan picked a further four wickets for match figures of 9/165. Left with a target of 252 to chase, Ace Capital CC responded strongly with 1812, being given an inspiring start by openers Pawantha