Nipun Dhananjaya brilliant 103 n.o
2024.01.02
Nipun Dhananjaya’s magnificent 103 n.o. and Niroshan Dickwella’s cameo 48 off 24 encourage selectors to recognize them.
The year-end cricket of the Sri Lanka Cricket Major Clubs 50-Overs Tournament was highlighted by NCC and Army SC winning against BRC and Chilaw Marians CC, respectively, while the brilliant century by SSCs Skipper Nipun Dhananjaya against Panadura SC highlighted Saturday’s proceedings, with four other games ending in no decisions.
NCC crushed BRC by 8 wickets, reaching 157 for 2 in just 17 overs after overhauling BRC’s 153 off 41.1 overs thanks to an 85-run first wicket partnership between skipper Lhiru Udara (55 off 39 with 9 boundaries and a six) and wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella (48), who has been nudging selectors of his versatility in the one-day format for a big time recall, best exemplified by his came.
In a rain-shortened game, Nipun Dhananjaya, 23, scored an unbeaten 103 off 122 balls in the left-hand position, showcasing his stroke play with 13 boundaries as the SSC totaled 237. Panadura SC responded with 67 for 1 when the rain stopped at the SSC Grounds.
Asela Gunaratne remained unbeaten on 35 after Rashmika Siriwardhana’s 3 for 35 set up the victory, but Dinesh Chandimal’s fine 61 off 75, including six boundaries and a six, was the focal point of Army SC’s 7-wicket victory over Chilaw Marians CC, reaching 144 for 3 off 32.4 overs and overwhelming their opponents 143 off 40.3 overs.
MATCH SCORES:
Burgher Recreation Club – 153 (41.1) (Dulash Udayanga 52, Umeshka Morais 38*, Murvin Abinash 20, Matheesha Pathirana 3/36, Sampath Nishshanka 3/38, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/42)
Nondescripts Cricket Club – 157/2 (17) (Lahiru Udara 55, Niroshan Dickwella 48, Kamil Mishara 29*, Ahan Wickramasinghe 22*)
Result – NCC won by 8 wickets
Chilaw Marians Cricket Club – 143 (40.3) (Kasun Vidura 31, Raveen Yasas 29*, Thikshila de Silva 23, Rashmika Siriwardhana 3/35, Shehada Zoysa 2/20, Kaumal Nanayakkara 2/37)
Sri Lanka Army Sports Club – 144/3 (32.4) (Dinesh Chandimal 61, Asela Gunaratne 35*)
Result – Army SC won by 7 wickets
Colts Cricket Club – 121 (38) (Angelo Mathews 39, Muditha Lakshan 29*, Dhananjaya Lakshan 26, Dileepa Jayalath 3/15, Danal Hemananda 3/24, Nalin Priyadarshana 2/44)
Police Sports Club – 65/2 (10.3) (Chathuranga Jayathilake 29)
No Result
Moors Sports Club – 171/8 (40) (Kavindu Kulasekara 61, Ramesh Mendis 53*, Mohammed Shamaaz 20, Isitha Wijesundara 3/40, Tharindu Rathnayake 2/27)
Sebastianites Cricket & Athletic Club – 10/0 (4.1)
No Result
Colombo Cricket Club – 253 (48.4) (Nimesha Gunasinghe 61, Sonal Dinusha 53, Anjala Bandara 36, Chamindu Wijesinghe 36, Wanindu Hasaranga 24, Lasanda Rukmal 3/43, Movin Subasingha 3/45, Praveen de Silva 3/53)
Air Force Sports Club – 68/4 (18.3) (Wanindu Hasaranga 2/22)
No Result
Sinhalese Sports Club – 237/6 (47) (Nipun Dhananjaya 103*, Krishan Sanjula 41, Sadisha Rajapaksa 29, Dinura Kalupahana 23*, Rajeewa Weerasinghe 2/34, Traveen Mathew 2/43
Panadura Sports Club – 67/1 (12) Vishen Halambage 30)
No Result
Badureliya Sports Club – 101/9 (36) (Anuk Fernando 66*, Chalana de Silva 4/16, Lahiru Gamage 2/14, Rahul Gunasekara 2/23)
Nugegoda Sports & Welfare Club – 65/6 (18) (Chalana de Silva 24, Alankara Asanka 3/20, Sasanka Nirmal 2/7)
