All-round brilliant Colts CC booked their place in the Premier Limited Overs Tournament 2014/15 finals when they defeated Ragama CC by 65 runs (D/L method) in the 1st semi-final worked out on Thursday at R.Premadasa Stadium.
Colts stand-in skipper Nuwan Kulasekara won the toss of coin and elected to bat on a slow surface. Ragama openers, Jason Perera and Udara Jayasundara added 32 for the first wicket before Kulasekara’s brilliant fielding ran Jayasundara out for 19. Jason was clean bowled by Shehan Jayasuriya for 18 few overs later and then left-handed in-form batsman Lahiru Milantha was Anuk Fernando’s first wicket as Ragama was restricted to 57 for 3.
Ragama captain Sameera Soysa and Nilushan Nonis added 60 runs for the 4th wicket before Nonis was bowled by left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana for 32. Soysa ended as the top-scorer with 37 runs in 61 balls. Apart of small cameos from Chanaka Wijesinghe (24) and Alankara Asanka (22*), none of the other batsmen helped the cause as Ragama ended their 50 overs with only 189 runs on the board. Five bowlers captured a wicket each while four run-outs disturbed Ragama CC.
Chasing 190 runs to win, young opener Sadeera Samarawickrama was dismissed in the first ball of the innings. One drop batsman Shehan Jayasuriya was the next man to be dismissed when he was trapped LBW by off-spinner Alankara Asanka for 14 as the team from Havelock Town was 35/2 in the 6th over. Former Royalists, Kusal Janith Perera and Bhanuka Rajapakshe formed a superb 91-run partnership for the 3rd wicket which was unbroken until rain brought a premature end to the game. Kusal was not out on 62 in same number of balls while Bhanuka was 43* and due to D/L calculations, Colts were 64 runs ahead at the 21.1 overs stage.
Chief Scores:
Ragama – 189/9 in 50 overs: Sameera Soyza 37, Nilushan Nonis 32, Alankara Asanka 22*, Shehan Jayasuriya 1/18, Anuk Fernando 1/21.
Colts – 126/2 in 21.1 overs: Kusal Janith 62*, Banuka Rajapaksha 43*.
