Panadura defeated Kurunegala Youth 235 to 164 in the Major Clubs Tournament with limited overs on Wednesday morning in Colombo. The hosts moved clear at the top of the standings while the visitors remain winless after five games.
There is no value left at that number for Kurunegala Youth, who have now lost every outing this season. Panadura had been running hot and cold in recent weeks, but this one was different. They had the game won inside twenty minutes, then kept knocking on the door until the final ball.
The home side sits fourth with five points from four matches, two wins and two defeats. It is a comfortable position, but not one to get comfortable in. Kurunegala Youth are seventh, still without a single point after five straight losses.
Panadura's last five results tell the story of a team finding its feet. They lost narrowly to Colombo and Sinhaalese Sports Club, then beat Tamil Union and Non-Descripts before taking on the visitors. The three-point margin in the Colombo game suggests they were close, but this time there was no drama.
Kurunegala Youth's recent form tells a different tale entirely. A single win against their own city rivals was followed by heavy defeats to Murs and Badurilia, and a loss to Berger. They were beaten by the same Nugegoda club twice in August, losing once and drawing once in a tournament without draws. The visitors have not won anything since August.