Pothupitiya Youth SC take National softball title

Bernard Perera in Chilaw

othupitiya Youth Sports Club carried away the All Island National Softball Championship beating Disco Sports Club from Batticaloa by two wickets at the Ananda MMV ground, Chilaw.

The final ended in a thrilling manner with the boys from Batticaloa fighting all the way. At one stage it looked like the Batticaloa team was heading for victory capturing six top order batsmen for only 61 runs.

The opening batsman Sujith with a stubborn knock of 35 runs made it happen for the Kalutara team. During the latter stage it was Chandimal who held the fort to sea them through to win the Dialog Trophy scoring 23 runs with almost four overs left.

Disco SC’s batting flopped earlier but the skipper of the side Ruparaj played a vital role stroking his bat to score a valuable 33 runs which helped the side to reach the three figare mark.

The highlight of the game was the stroke play of Manoharan Madan who stroked six sixers facing only six balls in the semis and the final.

Madan who walked in as the last man with three consecutive sixes during the 27th over saw his team make their way to the final with a one wicket win.

The second semi-final between Pothupitiya youth SC and Tangalla SC was a low scoring affair ended in favour of Pothupitiya.

The winners were awarded the National Championship Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 100,000 while the runnerup team received the trophy and Rs. 50,000.

This all island Softball National Championship organised by Sri Lanka Softball Cricket Federation was sponsored by Dialog Telekom Ltd.

Man of the final W. Duminda Silva.

Best batsman of the Final J.S. Sajith Kumara (Pothupitiya Youth SC).

Best Bowler of the final S. Loythadas (Disco SC).

Best Player of the Tournament T. Mohan (Disco SC).

Results semi final - Pothupitiya Youth SC beat Tangalla SC by 5 wkts.

Tangalla SC 67 in 26.4 overs (H.W. Amoda 10, M. Lalith 4/13, Chandimal Silva 3/4).

Pothupitiya Youth SC 68/5 26.3 overs (A. Indika 19, H.M.S. Lakmal 1/12). Disco SC, Batticaloa beat Gallant SC, Pannala by 1 wkt.

Gallant SC 119 29.4 overs (Dushantha 35, Sajan 16, Ruparaj 2/16, Arun Prasad 2/30, Sivasundar 2/27).

Disco SC 122/9 in 26.3 overs (Madan 26 n.o. Mohanan 22, Theradasan 21, Upul 3/19, Asanga 2/30 Manjula 2/11).

Final Disco SC 103 in 24 overs (Ruparaj 33, Duminda 4/29, Thusitha 2/18).

Pothupitiya Youth SC 104 for 8 wkts (Sajith 35, Chandimal 23 Charles Loydas 4/15, S. Ruparaj 3/16).