Enduring performances by Ranabima Baseball Club, Sri Lanka Army, Maroons Baseball Club and Asia Baseball Club helped them to advance into the semi-final stage of the National Open Knockout Baseball Championship after overcoming tough opponents at the University Ground in Colombo yesterday.
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| Ranabima dominated against D.S. Challengers at the pre-quarterfinal baseball knockout encounter at the University ground in Colombo. (Pic by Amila Prabodha) |
From Group ‘A’ the leading unbeaten team Ranabima will take on the Maroons while Army will meet Asia in the second semi-final. Both semi-final matches will commence today at 8.30 a.m. at the same venue.
From the quarterfinals worked off yesterday, Ranabima advanced to the semi-final beating D.S. Challengers easily at 11-1 while Army got the better of Richmond Sports Club at 10-1. Maroons recorded a thrilling 5-4 win against the tough Kandy Baseball Club while Old Royalists, who had a good run in their first couple of games, were pounded to a massive 11-nil defeat.
Ranabima who played their first game of the day against Old Nalandians went through several anxious moments before registering a thrilling 6-5 win. Exiled Old Nalandians earlier recorded an easy 13-3 win against Nince SC. The match between D.S. Challengers and Moratuwa University was a low scoring yet an interesting affair where the former won the battle at 4-2 to advance before taking on unstoppable Ranabima.
In the pre-quarterfinals Army recorded a comfortable 8-nil win over Mahinda Sports Club after thrashing Kelaniya University 10-nil in the top of Group ‘B’. Meanwhile Richmond SC recorded a thrilling 7-6 win against Shakthi Sports Club before meeting the avenging Soldiers in the quarterfinals. Shakthi SC received a walkover from Old Anandians.
From the bottom of Group ‘A, Kandy received a walk-over from Ruhuna University before trouncing Colombo University 11-nil but lost to Maroons in the quarterfinals after a close battle by 5-4. Maroons handed Peradeniya University a massive hammering as they went on to win the encounter easily at 13-nil. Meanwhile Peradeniya advanced to meet the Maroons after beating Frontiers 18-17 in a gripping battle.
Old Royalists advanced from the bottom of Group ‘B’ after beating Siridamma 11-1 but the losers put up an absorbing performance to beat Wayamba 8-nil earlier on the day. However in a dramatic contrast Asia trounced Old Royalists 11-nil in the quarterfinal stage to enter the semi-finals. Asia met Jayewardenepura University in their pre-quarterfinal and recorded a morale boosting 14-1 win but the losers of the encounter impressed earlier on by giving Navy Sports Club an 18-5 thrashing.
The tournament will come to an end with the final scheduled for 2.00 p.m. today. The losing semi-finalists will battle for honour in the third place play-off which is scheduled to be played at 11.00 a.m. The tournament is organised and conducted by the Sri Lanka Amateur Baseball / Softball Association under the sponsorship of Abans and LG. |
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