Angelo’s invincibles take Major Limited Over title

NCC team celebrates winning the Limited Over title after five years 

• Ragama CC cave in to lose by 145 runs

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Ragama CC after promising so much fell short at the post to hand to NCC a thumping 145-run win in the final of the SLC Major Limited-Over inter-club played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Both sides arrived for the final unbeaten, carrying all before them and a competitive game was expected, but in a crunch situation NCC showed that they were a far superior side than their opponents and proved so.

19-year-old Kamil Mishara’s well-constructed century, his third in the tournament, saw NCC who chose to bat first after winning the toss post a challenging score of 286-7. Ragama CC with a strong batting line-up were expected to match that total, but under pressure they fell flat on their face and were rolled over rather disappointingly for 141 in 30.3 overs making it a totally one-sided contest.

Ragama CC needed a good start and partnerships going to at least offer a challenge, but Sri Lanka fast bowler Lahiru Kumara made early inroads into their batting picking up two wickets in his opening spell of four overs and after another Sri Lankan quick Chamikara Karunaratne had run through their middle order with four wickets for 37, Kumara returned for his second spell to wrap up the innings to end with figures of 3 for 30.     

 

Third time unlucky

“Nothing went right for us today we lost two early wickets in the top order and our batting got stuck in the middle. We planned to keep NCC down to around 250 but we gave away 30 runs more through two dropped catches and some mistakes on the field,” said Ragama CC captain Ishan Jayaratne for whom this is the third occasion where he had ended up on the losing side.

He had earlier lost the finals to NCC in 2015-16 and to CCC in 2016-17 leading Colts CC. “I don’t treat it as bad luck but I am happy to have brought the teams to the final. Hopefully I can break the hoodoo next year,” said Jayaratne optimistically.

“We had a very small and inexperienced side and I am happy we came through to the final unbeaten. Janith (Liyanage) batted well throughout the tournament (he was the leading run-getter with 461 runs) and apart from him Binura Fernando and me, and Amila (Aponso) and Janaka Sampath did well in the bowling. If we can keep this team together next year we can perform better,” he said.

NCC did not have the best of starts as both openers Nimesh de Silva (1) and Upul Tharanga (10) were back in the pavilion by the eighth over for 20. The innings was reconstructed by two youngsters Kaveen Bandara who joined Mishara in a stand of 137 in 26 overs. 

While Bandara stroked his way to 65 off 76 balls (6 fours), Mishara adjudged Player of the Final held up one end and built another big partnership worth 98 runs with his captain Angelo Perera who upped the tempo with a feisty innings of 61 off 43 balls (4 fours, 1 six). Following Mishara’s dismissal for 113 off 132 balls (9 fours) and Perera’s, the NCC lost quick wickets but were still able to finish with a satisfactory total. Jayaratne and Fernando the two main Ragama bowlers took six of the seven wickets to fall.

For NCC it was their first win of the title since 2016-17 when they won under all-rounder Farveez Maharoof defeating Colts by 77 runs. On that occasion too Angelo Perera scored a half-century.

Youngsters to the fore

NCC’s win becomes all the more creditable when it was revealed by the captain that they were without nine of their regulars in the side.

“We played without five of our main players who are sick and injured and four players who are missing out with the national team. Altogether we played without nine regulars. But the young players have stepped up and done really well and it’s a tribute to them because when they are performing it is very easy for the seniors to get around them, the seniors have the experience to do that,” said Angelo Perera for whom this is the second title as captain of NCC for the past four years.

“A lot of credit should also go to the coaching staff Duminda Perera (former DS Senanayake cricketer and Ragama CC captain) and Manjula Fernando (from Lumbini College) for developing and grooming the players. They have done an exceptional job and also credit to the NCC cricket committee for having faith because we had a few issues. They sorted everything out for us and made it very easy for us to keep our focus on the game.”

Perera said that coming to the final they were confident of victory. “We had faith we can run through them because we know the strength of our team. We didn’t have a game plan as such because everybody had done their roles well when required. 

“Chaturanga de Silva had an exceptional season, Kamil Mishara, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, myself, Ashian Daniel, Naveen Bandara newcomer to our club, and Yugeesha Dilshan everybody had a brilliant tournament. They did their part in every game, it was a team effort.”

“Mishara is exceptional talent and definitely national material and Chamika Karunaratne who has played in one Test deserves recognition and a continuous run. He could be the solution to the all-rounder problem in the national team,” said Perera.

As champions NCC picked up a cheque for Rs. 750,000, Ragama CC as runner-up Rs. 500,000 and individual awards went to Player of the Tournament (Rs. 150,000) – Janith Liyanage (Ragama CC), Best Batsman of the Tournament (Rs. 100,000) – Charith Asalanka (SSC) and Best Bowler of the Tournament (Rs. 100,000) – Binura Fernando (Ragama CC).

Scores

NCC 286-7 (50) (Kamil Mishara 113, Kaveen Bandara 65, Angelo Perera 61, Ishan Jayaratne 3/52, Binura Fernando 3/55)

Ragama CC 141 (30.3) (Janith Liyanage 42, Janaka Sampath 21, Lahiru Kumara 3/30, Chamika Karunaratne 4/37)

Kamil Mishara acknowledges his century

Kaveen Bandara (left) and Kamil Mishara during their 137-run stand for the third wicket

NCC fast bowler Chamika Karunaratne who took four wickets rejoices after taking a wicket