Upul Tharanga gives NCC winning start

A quick-fire 89 in 58 balls, inclusive of eight boundaries and four sixes, by former Sri Lanka ODI skipper Upul Tharanga paved the way for NCC to record a comfortable 48-run win over Panadura SC and kick off the Major Club T20 Cricket Tournament on a winning campaign at Surrey Village in Maggona yesterday.

Tharanga was involved in two fruitful partnerships, first of 92 runs in 70 balls for the third wicket with Thaveesha Abishek and a 68-run stand off 31 balls with Ahan Wickramasinghe for the fourth wicket. Abishek chipped in with 46 as NCC posted 182-4 after taking first lease of the wicket.

Despite useful knocks from Sukitha Manoj and Sineth Jayawardena, Panadura SC was never going to be in the run chase as they lost their top wickets for 88 runs. They were eventually bowled out for 124 runs.

Chilaw Marians too got off to a winning start when they pulled off a well-deserved 4-wicket win with six balls to spare against defending champions Army SC at P. Sara Oval.

The Soldiers opted to bat first, but they put themselves in deep trouble and were struggling at 43 for 5 in the ninth over before recovering.

Pathum Kumara and skipper Thisara Perera put on a valuable 88-run stand for the sixth wicket which helped them to end with a respectable total of 143 runs.

Chilaw Marians in their run chase were made to fight hard for their runs and was in a spot of bother at 71 for 4 in the 11th over before Supun Kavinda and Chamod Sandaru came to their rescue. The pair put on 66 runs for the fifth wicket enabling them reach the target in the 19th over.

In the two matches played in the afternoon session CCC and Moors SC won their respective games against Galle CC and Kandy Customs CC.