Will Moors outplay NCC in final ?

Chris Dhambarage

CRICKET: Moors Sports Club will be hoping to continue with their giant killing performances when they take on NCC in the SLC Premier inter club limited overs cricket tournament final at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place today.

Moors SC have already made a huge impact in the tournament and had the credit of overcoming the defending champions Bloomfield in the semifinals last week. Their success in this tournament has been quite significant because they have entirely rallied around through team work.

Another significant fact is that Moors SC have just one test cap in their ranks in the form of Rangana Herath while the rest of their squad is a combination of youth and experience.

In contrast NCC will be fielding a star studded line up and are still considered as the favourites to win the title. Led by dynamic all rounder Upul Chandana the Maitland Place team of course had a narrow shave in the semifinals where they edged out Tamil Union by just 17 runs.

The final in fact is a crucial one for both Chandana and Russel Arnold as both players are fighting to regain their places in the Sri Lankan team for the tour of India. Stylish left-hander Arnold has been in excellent form this season and scored heavily during Sri Lanka 'A' teams' tour of the West Indies recently.

Arnold despite missing the early part of the tournament has accumulated over two hundred runs including two half centuries with an average of 41.40. However opener Ishan Muthaliph is their leading run getter with a total of 287 runs. He has two fifties to his credit and has a splendid average of 47.83.

Upul Chandana too has forced himself into recognition following some outstanding performances with both bat and ball. Chandana too had a successful tour of India with the Sri Lanka 'A' team where they emerged runners up in the Dulip Trophy domestic tournament.

Meanwhile Moors SC will miss the services of their star all rounder Dilhara Lokuhettige who is in the injured list. However they have some good all rounders with them and are capable of turning tables on their more fancied opponents.

Paceman Anil Rideegammanagedera has a total of 14 wickets to his credit with a best effort of five wickets for 17 runs and Chanaka Welagedera has captured eleven wickets with a best performance of five wickets for 16 runs. In addition Hemantha Boteju is the only centurian in the side while Bathiya Perera has two half centuries to his credit.

The teams: Moors SC (from): R. Peiris (captain), R. Herath, B. Perera, C. Wijesinghe, A. Rideegammanagedera, H. Boteju, J. Wannakuwatte, C. Welagedera, T. Priyadarshana, C. Mudalige, R. Silva, D. Udugamasuriya, D. Asanka, A. Bandaranayake, K. Selvam.

NCC (from): U. Chandana (captain), R. Arnold, I. Muthaliph, M. Gajanayake, K. Kulasekera, K. Gunawardena, U. Aravinda, U. Warna, S. Wijeratne, T. Kottahewa, A. Ganegama, L. Fernando, C. Komasaru.