Tamil Union clinch T20 title unbeaten
ThePapareNews article
Tamil Union C & AC secured the title of the Sri Lanka Cricket-organised Major Club Twenty20 tournament with a seven-wicket win over SSC in the grand final.
In the match, played as a day-night fixture at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on the 16th, SSC batted first and made 163 for 8, and Tamil Union C & AC, in reply, chased down the target with 28 balls to spare and only three wickets down to win the game. The special feature of their title triumph was that they went through the tournament unbeaten.
Although SSC qualified for the grand finals of both the Sri Lanka Cricket-organised Major Club one-day tournament and the Twenty20 tournament this season, on both occasions they had to settle for the runners-up spot.
Before this match, they were beaten by Moors SC in the grand final of the Major Club one-day tournament and had to be content with the runners-up position there as well.
Tamil Union C & AC team
Minod Bhanuka (captain and wicketkeeper), Thanuka Dabare, Sineth Jayawardena, Nawod Paranavithana, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Thevindu Senaratne, Sachitha Jayathilaka, Lahiru Samarakoon, Vihas Thewmika, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Binura Fernando.
SSC team
Avishka Fernando (captain), Vishad Randika, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Nuwanidu Fernando, Nipun Dhananjaya, Ranuda Somarathne, Dinura Kalupahana, Kavindu Nadeeshan, Prabath Jayasuriya, Malsha Fernando and Mihiranga Silva.
Winning the toss, the SSC captain opted to bat first. Openers Vishad Randika and Avishka Fernando duly put on 89 for the first wicket off 50 balls, a stand that was broken by the dismissal of Avishka Fernando.
Avishka Fernando, who brought up his 31st half-century in Twenty20 cricket off 25 balls, had made 51 off 27 deliveries with 3 fours and 4 sixes when he fell.
After that wicket, the Tamil Union C & AC bowlers did not allow them to build any further productive partnerships. Kusal Mendis (5), Nuwanidu Fernando (5), Nipun Dhananjaya (12), Ranuda Somarathne (7), Dinura Kalupahana (2) and Kavindu Nadeeshan (5) were all restricted to low scores, while at the end of the innings Prabath Jayasuriya remained not out without scoring, having faced just one ball.
Opener Vishad Randika, who fell as the fourth wicket of the innings, had made 68 off 49 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. It also became his best innings in 42 Twenty20 matches.
Opening fast bowler Binura Fernando once again produced a successful spell for his side, conceding 22 runs in his 4 overs and taking 3 wickets.
In addition, Nawod Paranavithana took 2 wickets for 34 runs, while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Thanuka Dabare claimed a wicket apiece.
Tamil Union C & AC could not get a good start in their reply. Their first wicket fell in the very first over, before a single run had been added to the innings.
Despite that poor start, Sineth Jayawardena and Nawod Paranavithana built a 133-run second-wicket stand off 56 balls. In their rapid batting display, Sineth Jayawardena reached his fifty off 18 balls and Nawod Paranavithana off 29 balls, which stood out.
Their century stand was broken by the dismissal of Sineth Jayawardena. He departed having made 82 off 32 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes.
After his dismissal, captain Minod Bhanuka's innings was limited to 8 runs, but from there Nawod Paranavithana and Sharujan Shanmuganathan made sure the opposition were given no further chance to take a wicket.
As the match ended in victory, Nawod Paranavithana was unbeaten on 58 off 38 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes, while Sharujan Shanmuganathan was unbeaten on 8 off 14 balls.
With the ball, Malsha Fernando took 2 wickets for 37 runs and Mihiranga Silva claimed one wicket.
Match scoreboard in brief
SSC – 163 for 8 (20.0) Vishad Randika 68, Avishka Fernando 51, Binura Fernando 3/22, Nawod Paranavithana 2/34
Tamil Union C & AC – 164 for 3 (15.2) Sineth Jayawardena 82, Nawod Paranavithana 58 not out, Malsha Fernando 2/37
Tamil Union C & AC won by 7 wickets.
- Man of the Match – Sineth Jayawardena (Tamil Union C & AC)
- Most Valuable Player of the Tournament – Nawod Paranavithana (Tamil Union C & AC)
- Best Batter of the Tournament – Sohan de Livera (Moors SC)
- Best Bowler of the Tournament – Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (Tamil Union C & AC)
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Based on ThePapare reporting