Army SC upsets SSC, NCC sails through to semis

The victorious Army SC team led by Thisara Perera is congratulated by the SSC players at the end of the match

NCC skipper Angelo Perera hits one of his six sixes in his knock of 97 off 47 balls

SSC’s Himesh Ramanayake celebrates his maiden one-day 50

Kamil Mishara of NCC exults after reaching his century

Army SC turned the tables on the much-fancied SSC, winning by 17 runs to enter the semi-finals of the SLC Major Limited-Over Inter-Club Tournament yesterday and qualified to meet Ragama CC in the second semi-final at the NCC on 9 April. Ragama CC won their quarter-final game against Tamil Union.

In the first semi-final, NCC, who beat Navy SC, will take on Badureliya CC at the CCC grounds on the same day. Badureliya CC overcame Moors SC in their quarter-final match.

Bowled out for a modest 198, Army SC defended the total superbly through their leg-spinners Suminda Lakshan and Seekkuge Prasanna and the crafty medium-pace of Asela Gunaratne to dismiss the strong SSC batting line-up for 181. Following an opening stand of 47 between Sri Lankan national caps Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando, SSC’s middle order collapsed to the spin and medium-pace, and it was a valiant but futile attempt by number nine Himesh Ramanayake, who scored his maiden one-day 50 that brought SSC closer to Army’s total. Earlier, Army SC recovered from 89/7 to post a decent 198 thanks to an 83-run stand between Dushan Vikumthi (55* off 107 balls) and Suminda Lakshan (41 off 70 balls). Army’s batting was undone by the spinners led by Prabath Jayasuriya (3/32), Lakshitha Manasinghe (2/20) and a wicket each to Jeffrey Vandersay and Danuskha Gunathilaka.

NCC continued their winning spree with a crushing 167-run win over Navy SC. Kamil Mishara, who scored a stylish 107 off 114 balls (five fours, two sixes), figured in two productive partnerships that saw NCC rack up an imposing 337/9, and then dismiss Navy SC for 170. Kaveen Bandara (49) helped Mishara add 103 for the third wicket and skipper Angelo Perera, who hit an aggressive 97 off 47 balls (six sixes, six fours), put together another stand worth 133. All the seven bowlers used by NCC took at least a wicket each in helping bundle out the Navy.

The combined efforts of Tillakaratne Sampath with the ball and Sandun Weerakkody with the bat saw Badureliya CC defeat Moors SC comfortably by seven wickets. Moors SC’s batting was immobilised by the off-breaks of Sampath, who took 4/26 to get them Moors out for a disappointing 154. Badureliya CC had no trouble in reaching that total in 26 overs, powered by a stroke-filled 70 off 57 balls from former Sri Lanka one-day opener Weerakkody who struck 11 fours and a six.

A 171-run stand between in-form Janith Liyanage and Udara Jayasundara saw Ragama CC crush Tamil Union by six wickets. The pair made short work of Tamil Union’s total of 255/9, taking the team home with four overs to spare. Liyanage hit seven fours and two sixes in his innings of 91 off 113 balls, and Jayasundara remained unbeaten on 86* off 85 balls (seven fours, one six). (ST)

QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS

• At De Soysa Stadium – Moratuwa

Moors SC 154 (41.3) (Dinuka Dilshan 24, Kavindu Kulasekara 21, Mohammed Shamaaz 31, Jeevan Mendis 38, Tillakaratne Sampath 4/26, Nimanda Madushank 2/20, Alankara Silva 2/30) lost to Badureliya CC 157/3 (25.5) (Sandun Weerakkody 70, Dunith Jayatunga 20, Milinda Siriwardana 34*, Sachitra Serasinghe 3/57) by seven wickets. 

• At FTZ grounds – Katunayake

Tamil Union 255/9 (50) (Sadeera Samarawickrama 64, Yohan Mendis 75, Ranmith Jayasena 20, Ravindu Fernando 31, Isuru Udana 33, Ishan Jayaratne 2/52, Binura Fernando 3/47, Shashika Dulshan 2/24) lost to Ragama CC 256/4 (46) (Saminda Fernando 21, Dineth Thimodya 33, Janith Liyanage 91, Udara Jayasundara 86*, Isuru Udana 2/37) by six wickets. 

• At Colts

NCC 337/9 (50) (Dineth Jayakody 35, Kamil Mishara 107, Kaveen Bandara 46, Angelo Perera 94, Chaturanga de Silva 25, Poorna Charuka 4/47, Dilanka Auwardt 2/53) beat Navy SC 170 (46) (Johanne de Zilva 44, Aravinda Akurugoda 29, Chamod Sandaru 22, Chamika Karunaratne 2/23, Sahan Arachchige 2/25) by 167 runs. 

• At P. Sara Oval

Army SC 198 (48.2) (Asela Gunaratne 22, Thisara Perera 32, Dushan Vimukthi 55*, Suminda Lakshan 41, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/32, Lakshitha Manasinghe 2/20) beat SSC 181 (47.1) (Avishka Fernando 32, Krishan Sanjula 33, Himesh Ramanayake 54, Asela Gunaratne 3/46, Suminda Lakshan 3/30, Seekkuge Prasanna 2/38) by 17 runs.