Saracens SC, Army SC first teams to qualify for SLC Major T20 semi-finals

Ashan Randika of Army SC scored the second century of the tournament against Kalutara TC 

Saracens SC and Army SC became the first two teams to qualify for a place in the SLC Major T20 inter-club tournament when they completed their first-round matches by topping their respective groups.

In an eight-over shoot out at Colts grounds due to a wet outfield, Saracens SC beat Badureliya SC by 24 runs to record their fifth win in six matches and finish on top of Group A with 10 points. The architect of Saracens SC’s win was Sri Lanka’s Under 19 cricketer 17-year-old Malsha Tharupathi from Madampe MMV who struck four sixes in a cameo knock of 36* off 15 balls to see Saracens SC post 77-2 and then returned to take two wickets for 13 runs with his leg-breaks to restrict Badureliya SC to 53-5.

Ashan Randika hit a 63-ball century (104) with the aid of eight sixes and five fours and Sri Lanka leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna captured three wickets for 16 to enable Army SC crush Kalutara TC by 126 runs at Maggona. Randika’s century was only the second scored in the tournament so far – BRC captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa having scored the first. 

Army SC became the first team to top the 200-run mark when they rattled off an impressive 215-3 and then confined Kalutara TC to 89-9. With this win which was their sixth in a row Army SC finished unbeaten in Group D with 12 points and secured a place in the last four.

SSC, the reigning champions, will not be defending their title despite ending the first round with a four-wicket win over Lankan CC as they finish third in Group A behind Saracen SC and Ace Capitals CC.     

Moors SC finished second in Group D to Army SC with a 15-run win over Bloomfield under the Duckworth/Lewis rain rule. When rain halted play at the end of 13 overs Bloomfield chasing Moors SC’s total of 146-9 were 80-5 which was 15 runs short of the par score of 95.

Navy SC and Ace Capitals CC were the other teams to record wins yesterday. (ST)