The NCC lifted the Sri Lanka Cricket inter club Premier League Super Eight championship for 2013/14 when they defeated arch rivals SSC on the first innings in the final group match of the tournament which concluded at the Army ground in Panagoda today.
The NCC who needed only first innings points to seal the title stuck to their task from the very first day of the match and went on to add the finishing touches in style with a tremendous batting performance.
In fact the NCC batted through the entire fourth and final day of this important game and finished with a massive first innings total of 419 for the loss of only two wickets in reply to SSC’s total of 288 runs.
Elegant opening batsman and skipper Upul Tharanga spearheaded the run chase while producing a trail blazing 168 runs from 232 deliveries inclusive of one six and nineteen boundaries.
Tharanga also put on a huge 206 runs for the second wicket along with Pawan Wickremasinghe who remained unbeaten on a superb 102 from 207 deliveries which was studded with a dozen of boundaries.
Meanwhile the CCC had the satisfaction of completing the tournament on a high note as they outplayed Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC by nine wickets in their SLC Premier League inter club Super Eight match which concluded at the NCC ground in Maitland Place today.
The CCC continued their dominance over the opposition on the fourth and final day as well and went on to reach their victory target of 159 runs quite convincingly with nine wickets and plenty of overs to spare.
The CCC openers, wicket keeper batsman Sameen Kandanarachchi and Amal Athulathmudali led the run chase with an opening stand of 77 runs in less than eight overs.
The former raced to a 52 ball 77 with the help of four sixes and eight boundaries while the latter smashed a sparkling 43 runs from just 21 deliveries inclusive of two sixes and half a dozen of boundaries.
The Tamil Union had to be content with only first innings points as their Sri Lanka Cricket inter club Premier League Super Eight match against Sri Lanka Army SC ended in a draw at Katunayake today.
Tamil Union who had enjoyed a first innings lead of 50 runs went on to reach a formidable 293 for 7 wickets before declaring with an overall lead of 344 runs.
Opening batsman Pabasara Waduge led the way while compiling a solid 130 from 205 deliveries with the help of three sixes and nine boundaries.
He also put on an opening stand of 170 runs along with his partner Manoj Sarathchandra who struck a splendid 73 from 107 deliveries studded with one six and eight boundaries.
However Army SC deprived Tamil Union of collecting full points while putting up a determined batting performance as they occupied the crease for 24 overs in making 100 runs for the loss of two wickets in the second innings.
Ragama CC ensured themselves of a first innings victory while producing a solid batting performance on the penultimate day of their Sri Lanka Cricket inter club Premier League Super Eight match against Moors SC which continued at the Surrey ground in Maggona today.
Elegant middle order batsman Ian Daniel and skipper Sameera de Zoysa continued with the good work and further extended their fourth wicket partnership to 97 runs with both completing fine half centuries.
Daniel struck seven boundaries and hoisted one six while wicket keeper batsman De Zoysa had one six and half a dozen of boundaries during his knock of 52 runs.
Moors SC trailing by 50 runs on the first innings had a disastrous start to their second innings and they have already lost three wickets for just 31 runs with Alankara Asanka claiming all three wickets.
