Nugegoda SWC keep quarter-final hopes alive with exciting one-run win

Lasith Croospulle (71 off 31 balls) helped CCC to highest total – 200/6 

Panadura SC’s Vishen Halambage made tournament’s highest score – 83

Giant killers Nugegoda SWC celebrate their win against Colts

Bloomfield’s Eshan Malinga returned career best figures of 4/15

• Bloomfield, Tamil Union bounce back from defeat
• SLC Major Clubs T20 hots up as group stage reaches conclusion

Danal Hemananda played key role with bat in Ace Capital CC’s win

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (4/22) bowled Tamil Union to victory

Giant killers Nugegoda SWC put themselves in line for a place in the quarter-finals when they completed their Group B fixtures with another creditable win beating leaders Colts by one run in a thrilling finish to their SLC Major Clubs T20 game played at the CCC grounds yesterday. On Thursday, Nugegoda SWC beat Tamil Union by 7 wickets.

Colts lost a crucial wicket – that of skipper Dunith Wellalage in the 19th over for a well compiled 33 off 26 balls (3 sixes) – and was left with the task of scoring 9 off the final over with their eighth wicket pair in the middle. But seamer Miyura Heshan playing in only his second T20 match although starting the over with a wide, conceded only 7 runs for Nugegoda SWC to pull off a nerve tingling win. Sanoj Dharshika scored 46 off 35 and ambidextrous spinner Shyamsunder Krishnashriram took a career best 4/9 for Colts, but to no avail. Nugegoda SWC now occupies second place and must await the results of the final group matches of Bloomfield, BRC, Colts and Tamil Union to know their fate.

Bloomfield bounced back from their defeat at the hands of Nugegoda SWC with a last ball 3-wicket win against Police SC at Colts grounds to regain top spot in Group B. Sri Lanka leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay was Bloomfield’s hero hitting the last two balls of the match for sixes to signal a thrilling victory. Bloomfield required 17 off the final over bowled by Charuka Pramod and Vandersay was equal to the task. Bloomfield were left chasing 146 for victory after Police SC had made 145-8 with fast bowler Eshan Malinga fresh from his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad returning his best T20 figures – 4/15. Chaturanga Jayathilake top scored for Police SC with his second 50 (33 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) in consecutive days.   

Tamil Union regained their composure somewhat with a 44-run win against Chilaw Marians CC at the SSC grounds. Thevindu Senarathne’s 50 off 34 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes) and Sachitha Jayathilake’s rapid-fire 41 off 26 (2 fours, 3 sixes) enabled Tamil Union to total 150-8 after being put into bat first. Chilaw Marians CC batting were all at sea against Tamil Union’s four prong spin attack led by Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (4/22) and comprising Theesan Vithusan (2/12), former Sri Lanka Under-19 Captain Sineth Jayawardena (3/13) and Vihas Thewmika (1/12). Chilaw Marians CC were put out for 106 with only Hiran Jayasundera standing tall with 31* off 34.

Defending champions NCC had a close call against Panadura SC edging home by one run at the CCC grounds. Powered by Vishen Halambage’s knock of 83 off 39 balls (9 fours, 5 sixes) Panadura SC nearly turned the match in their favour as they chased 160 for victory but finishing agonisingly short by two runs scoring 158-8. With 7 required off the final over seamer Sampath Nishshanka bowled a tight over conceding just 5 runs as Panadura SC’s desperate scramble for the winning run ended in a run out of the last ball. For NCC, Niroshan Dickwella (44 off 30 balls) and Chamika Karunaratne (50* off 28) were once again amongst the runs. 

CCC came up with the most commanding performance so far in the tournament becoming the first team to top 200 and winning by the biggest margin 144 runs in their demolition of Kurunegala YCC for the lowest total 56 at the SSC grounds. Lasith Croospulle’s brilliant 77 off 31 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) coupled with 48 off 35 from Dulnith Sigera gave CCC an imposing score of 200-6. Kurunegala YCC were bundled out for 56 with only their captain Gayana Weerasinghe getting into double figures – 13, as all seven bowlers employed by CCC took at least a wicket apiece – Lakshan Sandakan being the standout bowler with 3/12.

Ace Capital CC in a late spurt to qualify for the last eight, secured back to back wins beating Badureliya SC by 2 wickets at Colts grounds. This follows their one-wicket victory against Kurunegala YCC on Thursday. Chasing a target of 171, Ace Capital CC slumped to 111-7 in 13 overs. It was left to skipper Wanuja Sahan (36 off 22 balls) and Danal Hemananda (27* off 20) to steer them home with 3 balls to spare. Lahiru Dawatage top scored with 52 off 29 (5 fours, 4 sixes). In Badureliya SC’s total of 170-4 Shehan Madushanka (53* off 51 balls, 6 fours) and Seekkuge Prasanna (57 off 25 balls, 3 fours, 6 sixes) made fifties. – [ST]