NCC-Tamil Union clash in crucial match today

Chris Dhambarage

The table leaders NCC and Tamil Union will clash in a crucial SLC Premier limited overs cricket tournament Tier A match at Maitland Place today.

The two teams are currently on top of the standings after the completion of the opening two week's of matches with Bloomfield also joining the line up with seven points each.

However NCC will be looking to consolidate their position having already made a fine start to their campaign while Tamil Union will be out to avenge their defeat in the three day tournament which they suffered during the weekend.

NCC of course missed out a golden opportunity of moving further up in the points table as their game against CCC ended in a no decision last week. NCC were well on course towards an easy victory after having reduced their opponents to 58 for 7 while chasing a target of 152 runs.

This time however they are certain to receive some stiff opposition from the Tamil Union batting line up comprising of Sajith Fernando, Lanka de Silva, Ashan Priyanjan, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara and Isuru Udana.

NCC too have an equally good batting side and the match should turn out to be a high scoring contest if the weather keeps fine. The key player for them will be Malintha Gajanayake who hammered a match winning century during their close first innings victory in the Premier League three day tournament match on Sunday.

Bloomfield v Moors SC

Meanwhile Bloomfield will be out to avenge their defeat in the league tournament match when they confront Moors Sports Club in another important SLC Premier limited overs match at Reid Avenue today.

Bloomfield are still recovering following the weekend's batting debacle where they were shot for a mere 102 runs against the same opposition. But they have all the ingredients with them to bounce back with some of the top stroke makers in their line up.

In fact Bloomfield had the credit of piling up over 550 runs the season's highest total so far in the match against the Tamil Union at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium last week.

Moors SC of course will take the field with their heads high after having triumphed on the first innings on Sunday in their league fixture at the same venue.

They will be hoping to maintain the same momentum and keep the pressure on which will help them to register their second successive victory in the limited overs tournament.

The cynosure of all eyes will be on fast bowler Hasantha Fernando whose destructive spell of bowling brought the downfall of Bloomfield in their league match.

SSC v Ragama CC

The defending Champions SSC will face an acid test when they take on Ragama CC in their SLC Premier limited overs tournament match at Maitland Place today. Both teams will be determined to make an impact after their league encounter ended in a no decision due to bad weather during the weekend. Even then SSC will have a psychological edge after having piled up over three hundred runs in their uncompleted innings on Sunday.

SSC's forte is their batting with some of the top run getters in the domestic scene in their line up. Ragama CC will have a tough task in containing players in the calibre of Tharanga Paranavithana, Hans Fernando and Navin Perera who has got out in the nervous nineties on two occasions this season.

They will be joined by the all rounders Shalika Karunanayake, Kaushal Lokuarachchi and Nuwan Zoysa who are all capable of producing a match winning performance with the bat.

Ragama CC of course will be banking on the pace spin combination of Kaushalya Weeraratne and Malinga Bandara to restrict the strong SSC batting line up.

Chilaw Marians SC v Baduraliya CC

Chilaw Marians SC will have a great chance to consolidate their position when they take on Baduraliya CC in their SLC Premier limited overs tournament match at the R. Premadasa Stadium today.

Chilaw Marians SC are just beginning to reach their peak form and are the favourites to win this contest after having dominated their league match during the weekend.

However Baduraliya CC could be a completely different outfit in the shorter version of the game with a couple of genuine all rounders in their ranks. Their batting will be spearheaded by T. M. Sampath, Dhammika Vaz Gunawardena, U. K. Aravinda and Rasika Priyadarshana.

Chilaw Marians SC will be hoping for a repeat performance from Milinda Siriwardena and Janaka Gunaratne following their batting heroics in the three day match.

The other key player in their side is spinner Dinuka Hettiarachchi who has formed a match winning combination along with Gayan Wijekoon.

CCC v Army SC

CCC will be hoping to register their first victory when they take on newcomers Sri Lanka Army Sports Club in their SLC Premier limited overs tournament match at Maitland Crescent today.

CCC had the better of the Army SC in their league match during the weekend and will be looking for a repeat performance and to move further up in the standings.