SSC enter final with eight wicket win

Chris Dhambarage

The traditional rivals SSC and NCC have qualified to meet in this week’s SLC under 23 division one cricket tournament final after winning their respective semi-final matches yesterday.

The defending champions SSC powered their way to register an eight wicket outright victory over the giant killers Sri Lanka Schools under 20 team while NCC cruised to a comprehensive first innings win over Colts CC.

Skipper Hans Fernando hammered a superb 116 not out as SSC overcame Sri Lanka Schools under 20 by eight wickets in their semi-final fixture concluded at the NCC grounds in Maitland Place yesterday.

In fact SSC were home for lunch as they reached their victory target of 213 runs quite convincingly with Hans Fernando and Navin Perera leading the way.

The pair extended their second wicket partnership to a massive 188 runs before Perera was dismissed for a well compiled 80 from 157 deliveries inclusive of seven boundaries. However Fernando carried his bat until the end and remained unbeaten on a splendid 116 which was studded with one six and thirteen boundaries.

Schools (under 20): 115 and 237. SSC: 146 and 216 for 2 (H. Fernando 116 n.o., N. Perera 80).

Easy for NCC

Meanwhile NCC booked their place in the final with an easy first innings victory over Colts CC in their semi-final match concluded at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place yesterday.

NCC of course collected first innings points and assured their place on the second day itself after having dismissed the opposition for 234 runs in reply to their formidable total of 376.

NCC then decided to have some good batting practice on the final day by piling up a massive 426 for 8 in their second innings. Their openers Damith Dahanayake and Rajitha Mendis led the way with an opening stand of 106 runs.

The pair really made amends for their first innings failure and went on to complete half centuries while setting the pace for a huge second innings total.

The first innings centurion Kosala Kulasekera and Hashan Gunatilleke then consolidated their position with a fourth wicket stand of 145 runs. Both made the identical score of 73 while Eranga Gangoda who also hit a century in the first innings followed up with an unbeaten half century.

Skipper Damith Mapa Bandara became the sixth half centurion in the innings as he also joined in the fun while warming up for this week’s important final at the SSC grounds.

NCC 376 and 426 for 8 (D. Dahanayake 52, R. Mendis 58, D. Mapa 50, K. Kulasekera 73, E. Gangoda 59 n.o., H. Gunatilleke 73, R. Laksiri 27 n.o., O. Fernando 3 for 83, A. Janoda 3 for 68).

Colts CC: 234.