Badureliya Sports Club claimed their first ever premier domestic title when they defeated Sinhalese Sports Club by 10 runs in the SLC Twenty20 Tournament 2014/15 final played at SSC grounds on Friday.
SSC skipper Thilina Kandamby won the toss and inserted Badureliya to bat first. Left-arm fast-bowler Binura Fernando struck in the very first ball removing dangerous Amal Athulathmudali and later removed Imesh Udayanga for 7. Two down batsman Sujith Niroshan made 11 runs before he became the 3rd wicket at 37 runs with 7 overs done and dusted.
Skipper Milinda and Gihan Rupasinghe produced a stunning 122-run stand for the 4th wicket in just 70 balls which propelled Badureliya SC to post a commanding 176 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. Left-handed Gihan stroked an unbeaten 56-ball 74 which comprised 6 fours and 2 sixes while Milinda took only 37 deliveries for his 66 and his innings included 5 massive sixes and 4 boundaries. Binura Fernando and Upul Bandara shared 4 wickets equally.
Chasing 177 runs to win, SSC lost wickets at regular intervals and they were never given a solid foundation by their top-order who failed to cope up with the right-arm seamers of Kasun Rajitha and Andy Solomons. Skipper Kandamby made 35 while experienced Chamara Kapugedara made a 21-ball 36 but they failed to take their team to victory. Later in the innings, Sachithra Senanayake and Dasun Shanaka made few lusty blows but they fell 10 runs short. Kasun and Andy took 4 wickets each.
After gaining promotion to the first-class club cricket circuit in 2005, this is Badureliya SC’s best achievement in the Sri Lankan domestic competitions winning their maiden title.
Chief Scores:
Badureliya SC – 176/4 in 20 overs: Gihan Rupasinghe 74*, Milinda Siriwardena 66, Upul Bandara 2/28, Binura Fernando 2/32.
SSC – 166/9 in 20 overs: Chamara Kapugedara 36, Thilina Kandamby 35, Dasun Shanaka 28, Sachithra Senanayake 20, Kasun Rajitha 4/26, Andy Solomans 4/32.
