Defending champions ICBT and KDU made it through to the finals of the Red Bull Campus Cricket Tournament 2015 at the Thurstan College grounds in Colombo today(9).
The first semi final was reduced to a 16 over affair due to a wet outfield and NSBM invited ICBT to have a bat first after winning the toss. ICBT got off to a shaky start but a brilliant stand of 64 for the fifth wicket between national representative Shehan Jayasuriya(36) and Anushka Perera(50) lifted them to a competitive 143/7. Thilan Perera was impressive with his left arm spin for NSBM capturing 3 wickets. NSBM were never in the hunt in their reply eventually folding up for just 86 runs. Dushan Perera made a fighting knock of 32 for NSBM but the the ICBT bowlers led by left orthodox bowler Anuk De Alwis(3/10) proved tough to handle as NSBM were dismissed in the 15th over of their innings.
In the second semi final RI made 141/7 in their allotted twenty overs after winning the toss and taking first lease of the wicket. Left handed wicket keeper batsman Milan Abeysekara stroked a brilliant 66 off just 48 balls while getting good support from Dinal Fonseka who made a rapid 26 which included two massive sixes. Saranga Dharmapriya and Chandimal De Silva picked up two wickets each for KDU. The odds were in favour of RI at the half way stage of the KDU innings but Ashen Perera led the fight back with a spirited 57 while getting good support from Lakmal Sriyarathna(26) to bring KDU home in the final over with five wickets to spare. Left arm spinners Kulunu and Rishen shared 4 wickets between them for RI.
The final of this tournament will be worked off on the 15th of September at the same venue between ICBT and KDU while the winner will represent Sri Lanka at the World Campus Finals to be held in India later this year.
Chief Scores
Semi final 1
ICBT143/7 (16) Anushka Perera 50, Shehan Jayasuriya 36, Thilan Perera 3/14, Jason Buljans 2/33
NSBM86 (14.3) Dushan Perera 32, Damith Weerasinghe 16, Anuk De Alwis 3/10, A N Nanayakkara 2/06, Udara Hettige 2/08
Semi final 2
RIC141/7 (20) Milan Abeysekara 66, Dinal Fonseka 26, Saranga Dharmapriya 2/24, Chandimal De Silva 2/29
KDU145/5 (19.1) Ashen Perera 57, Lakmal Sriyarathna 26, Rishen Mathangaweera 2/11, Kulunu Rodrigo 2/34
