Kaushal Silva reaches 1,000-run mark this season :

SSC Premier League champs

Sajeewa JAYAKODY

With the help of wicket-keeper batsman Kaushal Silva’s magnificent batting performance throughout the season and in the final match, SSC clinched the 2013 Premier League Championship beating Moors Sports Club by six wickets in the season ending Sri Lanka’s domestic final at SSC yesterday.

Kaushal Silva, who scored 171 runs in the home team’s first innings and followed it up with a brilliant 88-knock and helped SSC to reach the 262-run target with ease, ending this season, scoring 1,073 runs, the first and only batsman, who surpassed the magical 1,000-run mark.

Right handed Silva (26) made five centuries and three fifties with an average of 89.41 in 13 innings during the 10-match Premier League Tournament.

Chasing the 263-run target, SSC openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Tharanga Paranavithana laid a solid opening stand as the both Sri Lanka left handed Test openers added 105 in 30 overs. Paranavithana scored 32 runs during his slow 101-ball innings. Karunaratne hit 98-ball 73 runs with 10 boundaries.

Kaushal Silva joined with Dhanushka Gunatilleke to add 75 runs for the third wicket before Gunatilleke was run out after scoring just 23 runs in 115 balls.

Silva, who walked into the crease needing just 15 runs to complete 1,000 runs in the season, smashed another aggressive 88 runs with nine fours and a six.

He and skipper Thilina Kandamby added 49 runs for fourth wicket. Kandamby was unbeaten on 29 when SSC won the four-day match by six wickets.

Leading wicket taker, Malinda Pushpakumara of Moors, took two for 90 and ended season capturing 68 wickets.

Moors resuming from the overnight score of 310/7 with a lead of 248 runs, were bowled out for 323 setting home team 262-run target.Ovrnight not out batsman Indika de Saram scored his century (101). For SSC, Kasun Madusanka bagged four wickets for 87 and Dhammika Prasad had three for 61.

Moors SC: 262 in 62.2 overs (Shehan Jayasuriya 68, Chathuranga de Silva 51, Janaka Gunaratne 42, Isham Ghouse 31, Dhanushka Gunatilleke 4/54, Charith Jayampathi 2/49) and 323 in 87 overs (Indika de Saram 101, Dilhara Lokuhettige 78, Shehan Jayasuriya 35, Chathuranga de Silva 33, Kasun Madusanka 4/87, Dhammika Prasad 3/61)

SSC: 324 in 83 overs (Kaushal Silva 171, Dhammika Prasad 47, Thilina Kandamby 33, Dilhara Lokuhettige 4/77, Vimukhi Perera 3/86, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/72) and 262/4 in 79.3 overs (Kaushal Silva 88, Dimuth Karunaratne 73, Tharanga Paranavithana 32, Thilina Kandamby 29 n.o, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/90).