Moors SC bring Major Club one-day title to Braybrooke Place
ThePapareNews article
Moors SC brought the trophy to Braybrooke Place for the first time with a 25-run victory over SSC of Colombo 7 in the final of the Major Club Limited Overs Tournament organised by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Moors SC entered the match having never won the title. They had reached the finals in the 2006/07 and 2007 seasons but finished runners-up on both occasions. Those defeats included a loss in 2007 to SSC, their opponents again in this year's final.
Asked to bat first by the SSC captain after he won the toss, Moors SC were bowled out for 260 in the day-night match played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on the 11th.
In reply, SSC were bowled out for 235 with just one ball remaining.
SSC team
Avishka Fernando (captain), Ron Chandraguptha, Dinura Kalupahana, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nipun Dhananjaya, Ranuda Somarathne, Vishad Randika (wicketkeeper), Kavindu Nadeeshan, Prabath Jayasuriya, Mihiranga Silva and Malsha Fernando.
Moors SC team
Pasindu Sooriyabandara (captain), Sithara Gimhan, Sohan de Livera (wicketkeeper), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janishka Perera, Ramesh Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Malsha Tharupathi, Santush Gunathilaka, Shiran Fernando and Induwara Udena.
Nipun Dhananjaya gave Moors SC plenty to worry about in the unsuccessful chase, scoring 98 off 112 balls with eight fours and a six.
During his innings, which ended two runs short of a century, he shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 94 off 100 balls with Kavindu Nadeeshan. The stand ended when Nadeeshan was dismissed for 44 off 53 balls, with four fours, leaving SSC on 204.
Dhananjaya then fell with SSC on 213. Prabath Jayasuriya and Mihiranga Silva, who came in after him, were dismissed for 10 and 12 respectively, while Malsha Fernando remained unbeaten on one at the end of the match.
Dinura Kalupahana also contributed 30 off 48 balls for SSC, hitting two fours and a six.
Milan Rathnayake claimed the first three wickets during the opening powerplay of SSC's innings, slowing their progress and giving Moors SC an early advantage.
Left-arm spinner Induwara Udena, playing only his second List A match, was the leading wicket-taker with 4 for 49. It was also his best return in the format.
Milan Rathnayake finished with 3 for 33, while Santush Gunathilaka and Ramesh Mendis took a wicket apiece.
Sithara Gimhan and Pasindu Sooriyabandara gave Moors SC a strong start after they were put in to bat, adding 49 off 45 balls for the first wicket.
The partnership ended with the dismissal of captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who had scored just 13 off 14 balls.
Sithara Gimhan was the second wicket to fall, having made 39 off 37 balls with eight fours.
Sohan de Livera and Sadeera Samarawickrama added 37 off 45 balls for the third wicket before Samarawickrama fell for 10, leaving Moors SC on 93 for three. After another 11 runs had been added, de Livera was dismissed for 29 off 39 balls with three fours, while Janishka Perera fell for 17 off 20 balls with two fours.
Moors SC had lost half their side for just 126 at that stage. Ramesh Mendis and Milan Rathnayake then launched a determined recovery.
Their partnership ended when Rathnayake was dismissed seven runs short of a half-century. He made 43 off 61 balls with two fours and two sixes, having added 79 off 106 balls with Mendis for the sixth wicket.
Mendis took on the responsibility after Rathnayake's dismissal, adding 36 off 33 balls for the eighth wicket with Santush Gunathilaka (11) and 15 off 15 balls for the ninth wicket with Shiran Fernando (4).
Mendis was the ninth wicket to fall, having scored 85 off 91 balls with five fours and a six. He was Moors SC's top scorer and recorded his highest List A score.
Prabath Jayasuriya returned the best bowling figures of the innings with 4 for 44, while Mihiranga Silva took three wickets and Nipun Dhananjaya claimed one.
Brief scores
- Moors SC – 260 all out (49.5) Sithara Gimhan 39, Sohan de Livera 29, Ramesh Mendis 85, Milan Rathnayake 43, Mihiranga Silva 3/36, Prabath Jayasuriya 4/44
- SSC – 235 all out (49.5) Dinura Kalupahana 30, Nipun Dhananjaya 98, Kavindu Nadeeshan 44, Milan Rathnayake 3/33, Induwara Udena 4/49
Moors SC won by 25 runs.
- Player of the Final – Ramesh Mendis (Moors SC)
- Best Bowler of the Tournament – Shiran Fernando (Moors SC)
- Best Batter of the Tournament – Movin Subasingha (BRC)
- Most Valuable Player of the Tournament – Muditha Lakshan (CCC)
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Based on ThePapare reporting