Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club won the SLC Premier League Tournament 2015/16 after 65 years when they defeated Galle Cricket Club in the deciding game during the first weekend of March.
In the final week of Super Eight matches, Tamil Union led by fast-bowler Suranga Lakmal recorded a 6-wicket win while NCC and Moors registered comfortable victories over CCC and Colts respectively. Another highlight during the weekend was the superlative triple-century scored by Ragama CC skipper Udara Jayasundera.
Tamil Union last won a Premier League title was way back in 1951. “We’re absolutely elated with the result.” Tamil Union vice president Suresh Murugaser said.
Tamil Union’s Tharanga Paranavithana ended as the league’s top run-getter with 953 runs in 10 matches with a superb average just below 80. CCC left-arm chinamen bowler Lakshan Sandaken ended with 52 wickets in 10 games at 23.19.
Final Points Table – Super Eight Tournament
| Teams | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | Aban | Pts |
| Tamil | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 82.785 |
| Moors | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 70.195 |
| Ragama | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 61.79 |
| Galle | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 60.44 |
| SSC | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 56.89 |
| Colts | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 52.42 |
| CCC | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35.415 |
| NCC | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 33.49 |
Top Five Run-Scorers
Tharanga Paranavithana (Tamil Union)– 953 runs in 10 matches (Average 79.41)
Minod Bhanuka (SSC) – 901 runs in 10 matches (Average 64.35)
Mahela Udawatte (Moors) – 894 runs in 9 matches (Average 63.85)
Lahiru Milantha (Ragama) – 883 runs in 10 matches (Average 63.07)
Chamara Silva (Galle) – 881 runs in 10 matches (Average 51.82)
Top Five Wicket-Takers
Lakshan Sandaken (CCC) – 52 wickets in 10 matches (Average 23.19)
Suraj Randiv (Galle) – 50 wickets in 10 matches (Average 28.50)
Amila Aponso (Ragama) – 47 wickets in 10 matches (Average 20.97)
Gayan Sirisoma (Galle) – 46 wickets in 10 matches (Average 25.45)
Sachith Pathirana (CCC) – 45 wickets in 10 matches (Average 29.62)
Tamil Union vs Galle
After trailing by 152 runs in the first-innings, Tamil Union came back strongly to stun Galle CC with Suranga Lakmal, Dhananjaya De Silva and Shaminda Eranga leading the way for the winners at Colts grounds.
Photo Album – Tamil CC vs Galle CC – Premier League Tournament 2015/16
Galle – 343 all out in 87.3 overs: TN Sampath 80, Nisal Randika 79, Chamara Silva 57, Rumesh Buddhika 54, Jeewan Mendis 4/74, Dhananjaya de Silva 3/20.
Tamil Union – 191 all out in 51.1 overs: Jeewan Mendis 82, Sithara Gimhan 35, Suraj Randiv 6/70.
Galle (2nd inn) – 126 all out in 38.3 overs: Charitha Buddhika 28, Suranga Lakmal 4/20, Shaminda Eranga 3/50.
Tamil Union (2nd inn) – 279/4 in 54.2 overs: Dhananjaya De Silva 124, Tharanga Paranavithana 67*, Pulina Tharanga 46*, Gayan Sirisoma 2/74.
Moors vs Colts
Shanuka Dulaj and Chathuranga De Silva inspired Moors SC to an innings and 31-run win over Colts CC at NCC grounds.
Photo Album – Moors CC vs Colts CC – Premier League Tournament 2015/16
Colts – 266 all out in 57 overs: Sadeera Samarawickrama 117, Dilruwan Perera 52, Wimukthi Perera 5/52, Chathuranga De Silva 2/78.
Moors – 597 all out in 167 overs: Shanuka Dulaj 128, Sanith de Mel 55, Denuwan Rajakaruna 88, Irosh Samarasooriya 88, Kaushal Gajasinghe 87, Ali Khan 6/98.
Colts (2nd inn) – 300 all out in 72.4 overs: Priyamal Perera 95, Angelo Jayasinghe 53; Chathuranga de Silva 7/70, Malinda Pushpakumara 3/95.
NCC vs CCC
Old stalwarts, Jehan Mubarak and Upul Tharanga made excellent centuries NCC defeated CCC by a massive 316 runs in their Premier League match which ended at Moors Grounds on Sunday.
Photo Album – NCC vs CCC – Premier League Tournament 2015/16
NCC – 510 all out in 119.5 overs: Jehan Mubarak 197, Upul Tharanga 172, Lakshan Sandaken 5/146, Sachith Pathirana 4/176.
CCC – 312 all out in 67.3 overs: Kusal Mendis 78, Danush Peiris 62, Anuk Fernando 3/20, Tharindu Kaushal 3/136, Chamikara Edirisinghe 2/43.
NCC (2nd inn) – 309/6 in 50.3 overs: Jehan Mubarak 81, Angelo Perera 67, Upul Tharanga 51, Sachith Pathirana 3/115, Lakshan Sandaken 2/103.
CCC (2nd inn) – 191 all out in 42.1 overs: Ron Chandraguptha 53, Sachith Pathirana 51, Tharindu Kaushal 6/87, Chamikara Edirisinghe 2/31.
Ragama vs SSC
Photo Album – SSC vs Ragama – Premier League Tournament 2015/16
Ragama settled for a high-scoring draw against SSC at R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
Ragama – 665 all out in 170.3 overs: Udara Jayasundera 318, Lahiru Thirimanne 135, Kasun Madusanka 2/143, Ramesh Mendis 2/159.
SSC – 362 all out in 106.3 overs: Danushka Gunathilake 97, Dimuth Karunaratne 57, Thilina Kandamby 60; Sanjaya Fernando 2/106, Amila Aponso 4/68.
Ragama (2nd inn) – 238 all out in 61.3 overs: Lahiru Milantha 96, Udara Jayasundera 37; Thilina Kandamby 3/24, Danushka Gunathilake 2/24.
SSC (2nd inn) – 26/1 in 3 overs.
