Cricket: NCC beat Colts by 77 runs to win AIA Limited Overs title

Skipper Farveez Maharoof led NCC to regain the AIA Premier Inter-Club Limited Overs Cricket Championship beating title holders Colts by 77 runs in the final played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (30).

Allrounder Maharoof grabbed hat-trick to dismiss Colts for 178, chasing a target of 256 runs for victory.

Electing to bat, NCC posted 255-8 with Angelo Perera hitting a half century off 74 deliveries after openers Niroshan Dickwella (49) and Upul Tharanga (34) put on a partnership of 86 runs. 

Maharoof hit 34 while Isuru Udana hit a cameo 25 off just 14 deliveries. 

Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera made a threatening effort by finishing off with figures of 6 for 28.

Coming down to chase the target Colts were put in a gravel position after Maharoof picked three wickets in the first over of the innings to have the opponents in trouble at 2-3. 
    
However Maharoof was forced off the field soon afterwards due to a hamstring injury. 

Despite Colts recovered through a partnership of 105 runs between Hashan Dumindu (72) and Angelo Jayasinghe (50), they could not prevent NCC from walking out winners. 

NCC last won the Premier Limited Overs championship in the 2006-07 season.

NCC 255 for 8 wickets (50) (Niroshan Dickwella 49, Upul Tharanga 34, Angelo Perera 50, Farveez Maharoof 34, Isuru Udana 25, Dilruwan Perera 6/28)

Colts 178 all out (45) (Hashan Dumindu 72, Angelo Jayasinghe 50, Priyamal Perera 23, Farveez Maharoof 3/2, Anuk Fernando 2/20)