Colts gallop past SSC for Premier Limited Over plum

By David Stephens
Sublime half centuries by Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Lankan opener Kusal Janith Perera provided the early impetus which ultimately propelled the Colts Cricket Club beyond SSC and towards a comprehensive 56-run victory in the finals of the domestic Premier Limited Over Tournament, played at the Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Taking first lease of the wicket, Colts’ batsmen poleaxed the SSC bowling line-up, with Perera leading the initial onslaught, striking a scintillating 67-ball 55, before Rajapaksa lit up proceedings with an even more inspired and aggressive innings of 80.
Built from 74 deliveries, Rajapaksa’s knock featured seven rasping boundaries and four towering sixes in a batting blitz which, along with a solid contribution of 40 from Roshen Silva, lifted Colts to a total of 251 in their allotted 50 overs.
SSC were limp in their reply, surrendering wickets at regular intervals to collapse to 104 for 5 with the dismissal of Thilina Kandamby. They never showed any sign of recovering, eventually capitulating for a meagre 195 runs.
Although SSC’s Dhanushka Gunathilaka staged a brief coup with a fighting 40, even the slightest hint of resistance was punished by the brutal lines and lengths of Colts’ bowlers, who were spearheaded by Nuwan Kulasekera who took 4 for 30. Shehan Jayasuriya shared in the plunder of wickets with Kulasekara as he finished with figures of 4 for 33.
Colts 251 for 9 in 50 overs (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 80, Kusal Perera 55, Roshen Silva 40; Thisara Perera 5 for 34, Binura Fernando 3 for 40)
SSC 195 for 10 in 41.3 overs (Dhanushka Gunathilaka 40, Thisara Perera 37, Thilina Kandamby 34; Nuwan Kulasekara 4 for 30, Shehan Jayasuriya 4 for 33, Ishan Jayaratne 2 for 46)