Kaushalya, Sameera, Shalika guide Ragama CC to maiden title
View(s):Premier Limited Over Final
By M. Shamil Amit
Kaushalya Weeraratne along with skipper Sameera de Zoysa and Shalika Karunanayake cracked match winning knocks to guide
Kaushal Lokuarachchi top scored for SSC with 56 runs off 63 balls. - Pics by Ranjith Perera
Ragama CC to a comfortable four wicket win over SSC in the final of the Premier limited over tournament played at the SSC ground. In the process they lifted their maiden limited over title.
Of the trio Kaushalya was in terrific form as he cracked a calypso style unbeaten 41 ball knock of 61 which included eight boundaries and two sixes. Ragama CC chasing 210 runs made steady progress before romping home to victory.
Though they lost their first wicket in only the second over with three runs on the board and then moved on to 90 for 4 in the 20th over, they did not panic and put themselves under pressure.
The foundation for the win was laid thereafter. This came with a valuable 56 runs partnership for the fifth wicket between skipper Sameera and Shalika. This partnership ended with the dismissal of the latter for 29 with the score reading 146 for 5 in the 32nd over.
Sameera was unfortunate to miss out on a half ton by four runs as he followed 17 runs later. That was all that SSC could achieve as Kaushalya along with Malinga Bandara steered Ragama CC with an unbroken 61 runs stand for the seventh wicket helping them to reach the target in the 44th over.
The morning session saw SSC being invited to take first lease of the wicket by Ragama CC skipper Sameera de Zoysa undergoing some anxious moments before ending their innings on 218.
Madura Lakmal of Ragama took two scalps
SSC underwent an early setback when they lost their first wicket with just eight runs on the board in the third over – that of Tharanga Paranavithana. Sri Lanka player Dimuth Karunaratne joined by Bhanuka Rajapakse came to their rescue. This pair figured in a 82 runs partnership in 80 balls for the second wicket.
Bhanuka did not last long as he was sent back with the addition of three runs with SSC’s score on 93 for 3. But Bhanuka had done his part by contributing a valuable 51 which came off 43 balls that comprised four boundaries and three sixes.
Right arm pacie Madura Lakmal dealt a double blow whilst passing the halfway stage of the innings when SSC were struggling at 141 for 6 having lost two important wickets in the process – that of Kaushal Silva and skipper Thilina Kandamby.
Kaushal Lokuarachchi began the second recovery act for SSC but they lost two more wickets and slid to 165 for 8 in the 34th over. Kaushal found a reliable partner in Amila Prasad with whom he added 25 runs before making his exit after having made a 63 ball knock of 56 with four boundaries and two sixes.
The last pair, Amila and Dilhara Fernando, put in some stiff resistance and added a valuable 28 runs for the last wicket helping them reach a respectable 218.
Right arm spinner Malinga Bandara was the pick of the Ragama CC bowlers as he ended with figures of 3 for 33 whilst Lakmal took two wickets.
SSC 218 in 43.2 overs (Kaushal Lokuarachchi 56, Bhanuka Rajapakse 51, Dimuth Karunaratne 29, Amila Prasad 29 n.o; Malinga Bandara 3 for 33, Madura Lakmal 2 for 33)
Ragama CC 224 for 6 in 43.4 overs (Sameera de Zoysa 46, Dhananjaya de Silva 29, Shalika Karunanayake 29, Ian Daniel 18, Kaushalya Weeraratne 61 n.o; Amila Prasad 2 for 36, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 2 for 46)
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