Leo and Army march into Tier B T20 final
ThePapareNews article
The semi-finals of the Sri Lanka Cricket-organised Major Club Twenty20 tournament were played today (19).
Leo CC, who beat Sebastianites C & AC by 59 runs, and Army SC, who got past Negombo CC by 27 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method, booked their places in the grand final.
The final is scheduled to be played on the 22nd of this month at the Bloomfield Cricket Ground in Colombo.
Army SC also reached the final of this season's Tier B one-day tournament, winning that match to be crowned champions.
1st Semi-Final, Leo CC v Sebastianites C & AC, at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo.
Toss – Leo CC
Batting first, Leo CC posted 192 for 6, and in reply Sebastianites C & AC could only manage 133 all out.
Leo CC team
Supun Dilshan (captain), Prasad Asanka, Ashan Fernando, Nethma Karunaratne, Neluka Heshan (wicketkeeper), Romesh Suranga, Vishwa Rajapaksa, Poorna Kalhara, Salindu Pathirana, Sudara Dakshina and Gayana Kahawiti.
Sebastianites C & AC team
Malinga Surappuligé (captain), Sanjula Bandara, Manupa Manmith, Rasheed Nayan, Chamindu Perera, Rusiru Wilochana (wicketkeeper), Eranga Jayakodigé, Dineth Samaraweera, Sutharsan Subarnan, Shanelkar de Silva and Hashan Sandeep.
Leo CC, who chose to bat first, lost their first wicket with just one run on the board, after which Prasad Asanka and Nethma Karunaratne added 93 runs off 56 balls for the next wicket.
That stand was broken by the dismissal of Prasad Asanka, who had made 65 off 42 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes.
Nethma Karunaratne was unbeaten on 57 off 43 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes at the close of the Leo CC innings.
In addition, Poorna Kalhara made 19 off 8 balls with 2 sixes and a four.
With the ball, Dineth Samaraweera took 3 wickets for 45 runs, while Sutharsan Subarnan and Malinga Surappuligé claimed a wicket apiece.
Rasheed Nayan was the top scorer for Sebastianites C & AC in the chase, making 33 off 16 balls with 4 sixes.
Rusiru Wilochana added 27 off 15 balls with a six and 5 fours.
Sudara Dakshina returned the best bowling figures of the innings with 4 wickets for 13 runs, while Prasad Asanka took 2 wickets and Gayana Kahawita, Vishwa Rajapaksa, Romesh Suranga and Supun Dilshan took a wicket each.
Match scorecard in brief
- Leo CC – 192 for 6 (20.0) Prasad Asanka 65, Nethma Karunaratne 57, Poorna Kalhara 19, Dineth Samaraweera 3/45
- Sebastianites C & AC – 133 all out (15.4) Rasheed Nayan 33, Rusiru Wilochana 27, Prasad Asanka 2/25, Sudara Dakshina 4/13
Leo CC won by 59 runs.
2nd Semi-Final, Negombo CC v Army SC, at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo.
Toss – Army SC
The match was reduced to 15 overs due to bad weather, and Army SC, who batted first, made 138 for 6. Negombo CC's reply was also interrupted by rain.
The match was then cut to 10 overs and they were set a revised target of 109 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method. However, by the end of the match they could only reach 81 for 5.
Army SC team
Shehanda Soysa (captain), Ashan Sudarshana (wicketkeeper), Janaka Sampath, Manushka Samith, Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera, Ravindu Wijewardena, Krishen Aponsu, Lilan Rangana, Pathum Malitha and Sarath Madushka.
Negombo CC team
Dimuth Sandaruwan (captain), Mohomad Murshad, Amitha Sandeep, Pasindu Thirimadura (wicketkeeper), Sachiru Kulasuriya, Rishma Amarasinghe, Varun Imeshan, Shehan Pramod, Hansaja Hiruna, Chanura Fernando and Angelo Jayasinghe.
Opening batter Ashan Sudarshana was the top scorer in the Army SC innings after they were put in to bat first. He made 47 off 32 balls with 6 fours.
Manushka Samith added 34 off 16 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours. The pair put on 54 runs off 31 balls for the 2nd wicket.
In addition, Asela Gunaratne made 19 off 13 balls with a six and a four, while Thisara Perera scored 17 off 13 balls with a six and a four.
Shehan Pramod recorded the best bowling figures of the innings with 3 wickets for 24 runs, while Varun Imeshan, Hansaja Hiruna and Chanura Fernando took a wicket each.
Captain Dimuth Sandaruwan was the top scorer in the Negombo CC innings, finishing unbeaten on 35 off 22 balls with 4 fours.
Sachiru Kulasuriya made 21 off 12 balls with 3 fours and a six.
With the ball, Lilan Rangana, Sarath Madushka, Pathum Malitha and Shehanda Soysa took a wicket apiece.
Match scorecard in brief
- Army SC – 138 for 6 (15.0) Ashan Sudarshana 47, Manushka Samith 34, Asela Gunaratne 19, Shehan Pramod 3/24
- Negombo CC – 81 for 5 (10.0) Sachiru Kulasuriya 21, Dimuth Sandaruwan 35 not out, Lilan Rangana 1/08
Army SC won by 27 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Stay with us at ThePapare.com for the hottest news from the Tier B Twenty20 tournament and from sporting arenas at home and abroad.
Based on ThePapare reporting