SSC emerge champs beating NCC by 4 wickets on Gunathilaka ton

Sunday, March 25, 2018 - srilankacricket.lk

SLC INTER-CLUB 50-OVER TOURNEY FINAL

SSC emerged champions of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Premier Inter-Club 50-Over Championship defeating NCC by 4 wickets in an intense final on their home grounds today. Chasing 237 to win SSC was spot on with Sri Lanka player Dhanushka Gunathilaka setting the tone with a superb 119 off 122 in notching successive tons in the wake of his match winning semi-final century versus Chilaw Marians on Friday. Apart from Gunathilaka’s match winning knock, SSC’s hero with the ball was former Sri Lanka paceman Dhammika Prasad who had fine figures of 3 for 42 off 9.2 overs.

It was a fitting final with the game producing a centurion from both teams with NCC’s Dineh Chandimal, the Sri Lankan test captain and ODI and T20 vice captain stroking a handsome 103 off 123 balls in a total of 236 all out in 48.2 overs. That was after SSC put NCC in to bat on winning the toss.

However, the day belonged to Gunathilaka who was in topping form reeling off 13 boundaries and 2 sixes. He put on 88 for the third wicket with Dasun Shanaka who made 26 off 53 balls with a solitary boundary. After Shanaka’s dismissal with the total on 142 for 3 off 26.4 overs, SSC lost two quick wickets making it 5 for 168 in 32.3 overs. Gunathilaka exited with the total on 206 off 42.1 overs from where K.I.C. Asalanka with 27 (45b, 3×4) and Thisara Perera 19 shared in an unbroken 41-run partnership for the seventh wicket to take SSC to victory off 45.5 overs. Dushmantha Chameera was the pick of the NCC bowlers claiming 3 for 41.

That the. match reached an Even Stevens trend in terms of run making at the halfway mark with NCC having been on 132 for 4 wickets off 25 overs with Chandimal on song and SSC on 142 for 3 off 26.4 overs did reflect the competitive spirit of the two sides. When NCC batted things were not that rosy at 2 for 46 and 3 for 80 before Dinesh Chandimal took strike in a repair job. He was ninth out with the total on 217 off 45.1 overs

Chief Scores:

NCC 236 all out (48.2 Overs) SSC 239/6 (45.5 Overs)

(L.D. Chandimal 103, N. Dickwella 33, A.K. Perera 21, M.L. Udawatte 20,K.T.G.D. Prasad 3/42, N.L.T.C. Perera 2/42, J.D.F. Vandersay 2/34)

SSC 239/6 (45.5 Overs)

(M.D. Gunathilaka 119, K.I.C. Asalanka 27, M.D. Shanaka 26, N.L.T.C. Perera n.o. 19, P.V.D. Chameera 3/41, S.N. Peiris 2/42).

By Srian Obeyesekere