by SA'ADI THAWFEEQ
Defending champions Bloomfield threw away a great start provided by openers S.K. Perera and Tharaka Gunaratne, who figured in a partnership of 142, to end the opening day of their three-day Division one (Segment 'A') Sara trophy semi-final against Moors SC on 304 for 7 wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday.
Winning the toss and taking first lease of a good batting track, Perera and Gunaratne provided the ideal beginning to the Bloomfield innings when they batted throughout the opening session scoring 84 runs. They were not parted until mid-afternoon when Moors SC captain Chandika Hathurusingha finally made the breakthrough by having Perera caught for 75 scored in 195 minutes with 10 fours. Gunaratne, who made 66 in 230 minutes with 12 fours followed 30 runs later providing fast bowler Rasika Priyadarshana the first of his three wickets for the day.
Despite the loss of Sampath Perera for 13, Bloomfield were still on course for a big score when they went to tea at 198 for 3. However, in the final session, Moors hit back to capture four wickets and somewhat redress the balance. Naveed Nawaz made 40 with seven fours, but Bloomfield's biggest setback was losing captain Ruwan Kalpage in the final over of the day for a well compiled 58 (7 fours).
Priyadarshana finished the day as the most impressive Moors bowler with figures of three for 71 off 19.2 overs. Moors will require him to clean up the Bloomfield tail which has still quite a bit of batting.
Day 2: Moors 236 for 6, Bloomfield 351
By Ranjan Anandappa
MOORS SC was in a spot of bother when they were 236 for 6 in reply to Bloomfield 351 on the second day in the second semi final of the P.Sara Trophy segment 'A' cricket encounter at the SSC grounds yesterday.
Bloomfield who were 304 for 7 overnight extended their first innings to 351 after batting for an hour facing 12.1 overs.
In reply Moors were off to a reasonably good start with openers Saluka Wijesiri and Mohammed Shiyam putting on 60 for the first wicket.Thereafter Chandika Hathurusinghe (74) and Anura Hettiarachchi (28) added 97 for the third wicket. Former test opener Hathurusinghe kept the Moors side going but once he fell to a fine catch at cover by Tharaka Gunaratne off Pulasthy Gunaratna's first over in his third spell with 14 fours after facing 106 deliveries it was evident that Moors will have a difficult task in obtaining first innings points.
Day 3: Pulasthi bowls Bloomfield into the final
by SA'ADI THAWFEEQ
Pulasthi Gunaratne bowled Sara Trophy champs Bloomfield into the final of the Division one (Segment 'A') competition with a late burst of three wickets for four runs in 10 balls against Moors SC in the second three-day semi-final concluded at the SSC grounds yesterday.
Moors SC starting the final day on 236 for 6 in reply to Bloomfield's 351, moved ominously to 291 for 7 mainly through their eighth wicket pair of Kesara Jayasinghe and Tariq Jiffry. But right-arm fast-medium bowler Gunaratne, not only separated them, but captured both wickets and that of last man Chaminda Hathurusingha for nought to finish with the impressive figures of 5 for 53 of 16.2 overs.
Jayasinghe was out for 49 compiled in 129 minutes with one six and eight fours, and Jiffry hit a plucky 17 in 51 minutes for Moors SC to total 298 and concede the drawn match on first innings.
Bloomfield going in for their second innings ten minutes before lunch, reached 262 for 5 wickets when the match was called off at 5.30 p.m. before the commencement of the 15 mandatory overs.
Left-hander Naveed Nawaz hit an impressive 93 in 190 minutes with two sixes and 12 fours, sharing in partnerships of 89 for the second wicket with Tharaka Gunaratne and 93 for the third with Sampath Perera. Gunaratne followed his first innings knock of 66 with 64 scored in 167 minutes (13 fours). The big hitting Ruchira Palliyaguru scored an entertaining 28 off 13 balls (1 six, 4 fours) before the game ended.
Bloomfield will now meet SSC in the four-day final beginning at the SSC grounds on April 30 where the national cricketers who are currently touring South Africa are expected to play for their respective clubs.