SSC and Bloomfield revive their rivalry

Chris DHAMBARAGE

The table leaders Bloomfield and the defending champions SSC will revive their rivalry with a crucial SLC Premier limited overs tournament match at Maitland Place today.

This will be the second occasion for the current week that the two teams are clashing on the field following their high profile Premier League encounter worked off at the same venue.

Bloomfield will certainly have a psychological advantage after their tremendous success in the three day match where they had the better of SSC on the first innings. In contrast SSC will be out to avenge that defeat with an improved performance that will also put them on top of the points table.

However the notable feature this season is that SSC have not been able to dominate the proceedings unlike last year where they looked more superior in all departments of the game.

Their biggest setback is that some of their more established batsmen are not firing well and are yet to display their true potential. This was quite clear when they were bundled out for just over two hundred runs in the three day match on their home grounds last Friday.

SSC certainly do have the batting with them to pile up a match winning total and this time they will be determined to make amends. Bloomfield too are packed with a couple of fine stroke makers and the expectations will be high on Chamara Silva who cracked a splendid century in the three day game on Saturday.

Colts CC v Chilaw Marians SC

Colts CC will be hoping for a repeat performance from their batsmen when they confront Chilaw Marians SC in their SLC Premier limited overs tournament match at Havelock Park today.

Colts CC had the better of the exchanges during their three day fixture where they successfully chased their opponents total of 253 runs thanks to a brilliant unbeaten century from Malintha Warnapura.

The stylish opening batsman was of course well set for a big score having made 133 not out before bad weather intervened and completely washed out the third and final days proceedings. The captain of Colts CC will be determined to continue from where he left on Sunday with another good innings which will helped his side to register their maiden victory in the tournament. Colts CC have already suffered due to the prevailing bad weather and will be keen to get their first points and to reach at least the top five of the competition during the half way stage of the event. Chilaw Marians SC will be determined to get their act together well after a disappointing performance in the Premier League three day game where they were dismissed for 253 in the first innings.

They will be hoping that their inform batsman Gayan Wijekoon will deliver the goods once again following his fighting century on Friday.

However the rest of the batsmen have not been quite consistent and this has been the main reason for their poor show where they have managed just a solitary victory from three outings.

CCC v Baduraliya CC

CCC will be looking to add more humiliation on Baduraliya CC when they clash in their SLC Premier limited overs tournament match at Maitland Crescent today.

CCC really made a mockery of their opponents by rattling up a huge 343 for 2 in their three day match which they won on the first innings quite convincingly. Jehan Mubarak will be hoping to resume his innings after having plundered an unbeaten century following his massive second wicket partnership with Michael van Dort.

CCC will be determined to collect full points from this outing because then they will be in a good position to challenge the table leaders during the latter stages of the tournament. They have already suffered with one no result but they are very much in the running with seven points to their credit.

NCC v Moors SC

NCC will be looking to register their second victory when they take o Moors SC in their SLC Premier limited overs tournament match at Braybrooke Place today. NCC have experienced mixed fortunes in this tournament and will be anxious to get some more points on the table which will give them an outside chance of threatening the table leaders.

The NCC outfit have certainly performed well in the Premier League three day Tier A tournament but they have been unable to produce the same form in the shorter version of the game.

In fact last week they had the great satisfaction of dismissing Moors SC for a season lowest total of 36 runs on their home grounds. However Moors Sports Club are capable of bouncing back in the limited over game with some talented all rounders in their team.

Tamil Union v Army SC

Tamil Union will be hoping to consolidate their position when they take on Sri Lanka Army Sports Club in their SLC Premier limited overs match at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium today.

In fact Tamil Union have maintained an unbeaten record in this tournament and they are looking towards registering their third victory from four outings.

They are certainly strong contenders for the title and are trailing by just a solitary point from the table leaders Bloomfield.