Isuru Udana scores dominant 88 on Day 2
Tamil Union scored a massive first-innings total of 558 and CCC in their reply, made 149 for 2 wickets at close on the second day of the four-day Major Clubs cricket final at SSC grounds yesterday.
Openers Nimesha Gunasinghe and Sonal Dinusha failed to give CCC a good start as young Dinusha was the first to depart, going back for 4 in 8 balls (1 four), which paceman Shiran Fernando marked an early breakthrough to dismiss the batsman in the third over.
Gunasinghe and the experienced Minod Bhanuka repaired the innings adding a 72-run stand for the second wicket but paceman Kavindu Pathiratne closed out the day by picking up Gunasinghe’s wicket in the 17th over. Kavindu scored 33 in 56 balls with 5 fours.
Minod Bhanuka the wicketkeeper/batter took responsibility as he remained unbeaten on 72 off 74 balls with 6 fours and a six which was backed up by a well-supported role with Kamindu Mendis, who scored a 40-ball 31 with 7 fours and added an unbroken 69-run third wicket stand. CCC still trail by 409 runs.
Earlier, Tamil Union resumed with an overnight score of 356/5. Dilum Sudeera (32) and Ravindu Fernando (45), the two overnight batsmen scored useful knocks while experienced Isuru Udana who retired from International cricket came to the fore once again with his usual attacking style to score a superb knock of 88 in 72 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes. The well-supported knock hit by Kavindu Pathiratne of 46 runs in 70 balls helped to put up a challenging total.
Paceman Vishwa Fernando finished with figures of 4 for 102 while wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan claimed 4 for 128. Both bowled 28 over spells each taking bowling honours for CCC.
Chief scores
Tamil Union: 558 (Sadeera Samarawickrama 188, Navod Paranavithana 54, Ron Chandragupta 48, Dilum Sudeera 32, Ravindu Fernando 45, Isuru Udana 88, Kavindu Pathiratne 46, Vishwa Fernando 4/102, Lakshan Sandakan 4/128)
CCC: 149 for 2 wickets at close (Nimesha Gunasinghe 33, Minod Bhanuka 72*, Kamindu Mendis 31*, Shiran Fernando 1/35, Kavindu Pathiratne 1/36)