United Southern SC give SSC a scare

Thursday, 5 June 2025 02:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Nuwanidu Fernando steered SSC to victory

Army SC, Malay CC, Ragama CC into Tier B semi-finals

Chamindu Wickramasinghe restricted United Southern SC with 4 wickets

Asiri de Silva’s half century proved a vain effort for Navy SC

SSC were given a scare by United Southern SC before winning their SLC Tier B quarter-final game played at the Colts grounds yesterday by 3 wickets with 2 balls to spare to advance into the semi-finals.

Chasing a target of 131, SSC slumped to 107-7 before Nuwanidu Fernando (35* off 29 balls, 3 sixes) played a cool and calculated game to carry his team over the line in the company of Kavindu Nadeeshan (7*) in an unbroken stand of 29. Fernando finished the match off with a six over long-on. Krishan Sanjula and Charith Asalanka with 25 apiece contributed to the top order. Fast bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe (4/21) and Pramod Madushan (2/21) restricted the United Southern SC batting to 130-8 with Raveen Perera being their top scorer (34* off 24 balls, 3 sixes).

Malay CC also went through some anxious moments before pulling off a 4-wicket win over Leo CC at Surrey Village grounds, Maggona. Malay CC did well to restrict Leo CC to 123-8 with Salinda Pathirana making a top score of 46 off 37 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes). Malay CC floundered in the run chase losing their first six wickets for 99 when Pulasthi Athapaththu (20*) and Teron Baskaran (19*) came to their aid in an unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 27 to see them home. Opener Kevin Samuel top scored for Malay CC with 42 off 45 balls.

In a low scoring game at Surrey Village grounds, Maggona, Army SC beat Galle CC by 6 wickets under the DLS method following interference from rain. Galle CC’s innings ended at 74-9 in 15.4 overs. Army SC’s revised target was 64 in 15 overs. They got there in 10.5 overs scoring 66-4. Veteran opener Asiri de Silva’s half-century (55 off 49 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) proved a vain effort as Ragama CC sailed into the semi-finals with a 4-wicket win (DLS method) over Navy SC at the Colts grounds. Navy SC who opted to bat first were strongly placed to put up a competitive score when they were 82-2 in 13 overs when rain disrupted their momentum. They eventually ended up scoring 96-6 in 16 overs which was a far cry from what they would have achieved had it not been for the rain. Ragama CC always had the game under their control following a 51-run stand for the second wicket between Denura Demansith (33) and Sameen Kandanarachchi (28) and reached their target of 105 in 15.4 overs.

The semi-final line up for 7 June at the SSC grounds:

SSC v Army SC 9.45 am, Malay CC v Ragama CC 2 pm – [ST]

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