Last year’s finalists clash in first semi
View(s):Premier Limited Over Semifinals
The first semifinal will be a repeat of last year’s final as defending champions NCC square up against SSC, in an interesting tussle between the two neighbouring traditional rivals.
NCC, led by Sri Lanka player, Upul Tharanga, come into the game as favourites having secured seven wins from their nine preliminary round matches
NCC began the tournament inauspiciously losing to Colts by six wickets, but came back to record wins over the Chilaw Marians (7 wickets), Badureliya CC (127 runs), SLPA (57 runs), KYCC (222 runs), Tamil Union (84 runs), Panadura (8 wickets) and CCC 177 runs), with their match against Saracens SC being abandoned.
 Thilina Kandamby |
 Upul Tharanga |
However SSC, guided by the experienced Thilina Kandamby, won’t be pushovers and will be aiming to avenge their previous finals’ defeat to NCC.
SSC recorded wins against Chilaw Marians (4 runs), Lankan CC (9 wickets), Navy (57 runs), Galle CC (152 runs), BRC (7 wickets) and Air Force (8 wickets) and suffered defeats to Ragama CC (4 runs) and Bloomfield (10 runs).
NCC will be banking on its skipper, Upul Tharanga, to lead from the front.
NCC’s bowling has revolved around spin, namely Tharindu Kaushal, who is playing in his first season, and the experienced Sohan Boralessa, both of whom have a combined haul of 26 wickets between them.
SSC on the other hand cannot match the batting strength of their opponents as they have only two centurions in Dhanushka Gunatileke, who made 106 against BRC and is also their leading run-getter with over 300 runs, and Bhanuka Rajapakse, who made an unbeaten 101 against Air Force.
They will have to take the challenge to their opponents. Their batting fate rests in the hands of Dhanushka along with skipper Thilina and Kaushal Silva, both of whom have scored over 250 runs, and also Bhanuka and Kaushal Lokuarachchi.
SSC’s bowling, which has been their trump card, has been noticeably weakened without their top spinner Sachithra Senanayake who has left the island to play in the Australian Big Bash.
| The teams | |
| NCC: | SSC: |
| Upul Tharanga (Capt), Jehan Mubarak, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveev Maharoof, Angelo Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Sohan Boralessa, Tharindu Kaushal, Ramith Rambukwella, Lahiru Madusanka, Sandun Weerakkody, Chaminda Vidanapathirana, Akalanka Ganegama, Kosala Kulasekera. | Thilina Kandamby (Capt), Kaushal Silva, Sachithra Senanayake, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Dhanushka Gunatileke, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Geeth Alwis, Charith Jayampathi, Dasun Shanaka, Amila Prasad, Kasun Madusanka, Dilhara Fernando, Chathupama Gunasinghe, Harith Maduwantha, Suresh Wickrama. |
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