Major Club T20 Cricket NCC scrape through with one-run win

By M. Shamil Amit

NCC scraped through as they were given a fright by Panadura SC before pulling off a thrilling one run in the Major Club Division One Tier ‘A’ T20 cricket tournament encounter played at CCC ground.  In the process they chalked up their third win of the tournament and also succeeded to take the top slot in Group ‘A’.

NCC taking first lease of the wicket lost two early wickets with the score on eight before Niroshan Dickwella and Jeewaka Shashin rescued them with the pair putting on a valuable 62 runs for the third wicket. The separation saw them losing wickets at regular intervals. Later NCC helped by an unbeaten half ton by Chamika Karunaratnne ended their innings making a score of 159.

Panadura SC in their run chase lost their top five wickets with the score on 112 in the 13th over and despite a fine knock of 83 in 39 balls by Vishen Halambage they were restricted for a score of 158 runs with NCC succeeding to maintain their unbeaten record with their third win.

Chief scores 
At CCC – NCC won by 1 run
NCC 159/6 in 20 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 44, Chamika Karunaratne 50 n.o)
Panadura SC 158/8 in 20 overs (Vishen Halambage 83, Vishwa Lahiru 28, Sahan Arachchige 3/29)

At Colts – Bloomfield won by 3 wickets
Police SC 145/8 in 20 overs (Chathuranga Jayatileke 50, Nadeera Balasooriya 25, Eshan Malinga 4/15)
Bloomfield 147/7 in 20 overs (Lahiru Madusanka 29, Ron Chandragupta 28, Jefffrey Vandersay 29 n.o, Naveen Fernando 3/29)

At CCC – Nugegoda S&WC won by 1 run
Nugegoda S&WC 142/8 in 20 overs (Kevin Perera 26, Krishnashriram 4/9)
Colts CC 141/7 in 20 overs (Sanoj Dharshika 46, Dunith Wellalage 38, Suwath Mendis 3/18)

At SSC – CCC won by 144 runs
CCC 200/6 in 20 overs (Lasith Croospulle 77, Dulnith Sigera 48, Rehan Peiris 29, Inuka Karannagoda 32 n.o)
Kurunegala YCC 56 in 24.2 overs (Lakshan Sandakan 3/12)

At Colts – Ace Capital CC won by 2 wickets
Badureliya SC 170/4 in 20 overs (Seekkuge Prasanna 57, Shehan Madusanka 53 n.o)
Ace Capital CC 176/8 in 19.3 overs (Lahiru Dawatage 52, Nimesha Gunasinghe 36, Wanuja Sahan 36, Danal Hemananda 27 n.o, Keshara Nuwantha 4/41)