Dickwella, Weerakkody sink SSC

A brisk, 131-run stand between 20-year-old batsmen Niroshan Dickwella and Sandun Weerakkody made light work of Sinhalese Sports Club's 206, as Nondescripts Cricket Club flew to a seven-wicket win at the opposition's home ground. NCC led Group B with 20 points as a result of the victory, and Dickwella also topped the run-scorers' list, as he did in the same tournament last season. He has 403 runs at 67.16, after his 86 from 90 balls in this match.

Kaushal Silva had top-scored with 76 from 113 for SSC, after they had been asked to bat, but Silva received little sustained support from others in the top order. SSC failed to achieve stability, as partnerships crumbled before achieving anything substantial, and the last five wickets fell for 23, bringing the innings to an end in the 45th over. Part time left-arm spinner Angelo Perera collected NCC's best figures, taking the last four wickets for 8 runs in 3.5 overs. Frontline offspinner Tharindu Kaushal took 2 for 26.

NCC lost two wickets for 46 at the top of their chase, but Dickwella and Weerakkody progressed securely at almost a run-a-ball, and had effectively won the match by the time they were parted. Weerakkody remained unbeaten on 79 when the winning runs were scored in the 35th over. Seam bowler Charith Jayampathi took all three NCC scalps.

Tamil Union's woeful one-day season worsened at their home ground, against Bloomfield Cricket Club, who rode an unbeaten Madawa Warnapura ton to a 103-run victory. Warnapura was the only Bloomfield batsman to cross 50, after his team had chosen to bat first, but three of the top five batsmen got starts, and built meaningful partnerships with Warnapura. Bloomfield hit 272 for 8 from their 50 overs, as TN Sampath collected 3 for 62 from his nine overs. Shaminda Eranga was again expensive, conceding 54 from his eight overs, though he did take a wicket.

Tamil Union began well enough, racing to 60 for no loss in 8.3 overs, before losing both openers in quick succession. Sampath was their best batsman as well, hitting 52 from 57, but wickets tumbled in a heap after the 20th over, with five Bloomfield bowlers taking two wickets apiece. Tamil Union were all out for 169 in the 40th over, and now slip to sixth in the group, having won only one of their five matches. Bloomfield are third, with three wins.

Chilaw Marians nearly defended 158, but Ports Authority Cricket Club escaped by two wickets at the Moors Sports Club Ground to remain well-placed in the competition. Isuru Udana had taken four wickets and effected two run-outs, as Chilaw slipped to 72 for 6 after being asked to bat, before a 73-run stand between Vidura Adikari and Nimesh Perera pushed the total some way towards respectability.

Ports Authority were cruising to the target at 99 for 2 in the 13th over, before Shashrika Pussegolla, who bowls right-arm seam as well as spin, sparked a collapse. Six wickets fell for 25 runs, but wicketkeeper-batsman Gayan Maneeshan arrested the slide with a 41 from 49 balls, with Chaminda Bandara at the other end. Ports Authority reached their target in the 30th over. Ashan Priyanjan had hit 58 from 42 earlier in the innings, and Pussegolla finished with 4 for 54.

Ragama Cricket Club relinquished their place atop the ladder, as Roshen Silva's 104 led Colts Cricket Club's to a 40-run victory, at Colts' home ground. Ragama had begun strongly through Lahiru Jayaratne's seam bowling, as they had Colts at 37 for 3 after asking the hosts to bat, before the spinners made further inroads, reducing Colts to 108 for 6. Silva, though, struck up a 71-run stand with Sachith Pathirana, who made 51 from No. 8, before joining Kanishka Alvitigala for an unbeaten 84-run ninth-wicket partnership. Colts finished at 265 for 8 from their 50 overs.

Left-arm spinner Pathirana and seam-bowler Alvitigala were also instrumental with the ball, as they shared five wickets between them, while offspinner Dilruwan Perera took three. Ian Daniel made his third half-century in the tournament, but none of his team-mates could manage a substantial score, and Ragama succumbed for 225 in the 48th over.

Lower-order runs from Chandana Aravinda and Charitha Buddhika helped Panadura Sports Club sink Colombo Cricket Club by 63 runs at CCC's home ground. Each of Panadura's top three batsmen were out for ducks, and the middle order managed little better, but the visitors recovered via Aravinda's gutsy 118-run stand with Buddhika for the seventh wicket. Panadura eventually finished with 195 all out.

CCC did not begin quite so poorly, but then quickly lost their first six wickets for 81. There was no one to halt the collapse. Buddhika took 3 for 42 after setting CCC's slide in motion at the top of the innings, and spinners Gayan Sirisoma and Koshan Dhanushka also took three wickets apiece. CCC were all out for 132 in the 31st over.