Cricket: Soldiers hunt down favourites Tamil Union to take AIA Premier T20 title

Army SC, made a gallant and collective display to win their maiden Premier title, when they totally outplayed Tamil Union by 5 wickets to win the AIA Premier Twenty20 Championship in the final played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday (24).

Put into bat first Tamil Union posted 164-9 after an early collapse which put them in a grave position at 87-7 at one stage. 

Army SC did not have any threat as they galloped to reach 170-5 with 18 deliveries to spare. 

Even the company of seven national players could not help Tamil Union in much big way as their only performer was the in-form opener T.M. Dilshan, who craced 85 off 57 deliveries which also included 13 boundaries.  

The only useful partnership Dilshan associated was with Pulina Tharanga, who remained unbeaten on 20, as the pair put on 59 runs for the eighth wicket after Tamil Union were badly placed at 87-7. 

Leg-spinner Sampath Perera claimed four wickets, spearheading the Tamil Union collapse, as Ajantha Mendis and Sanjika Ridma grabbed two wickets each, supporting him well. 

Army looked composed despite losing an early wicket as they comfortably reached the winning target. 

Opener Pathum Dilshan (21) and match winner Asela Gunaratne, who remained unbeaten on 65 off 43 deliveries, added 53 runs for the second wicket after losing the first wicket at 10. 

Shalika Karunanayake (27) and Seekkuge Prasanna (28) made explosive knocks to help Army’s run-chase. 

Karunanayake’s knock came off 19 deliveries with a four and two sixes while Prasanna was more aggressive during his 10-ball knock of 28 which also had four sixes.  

Shaminda Eranga claimed two wickets for Tamil Union.

In the semi-final, Army beat SSC by 5 wickets, creating a major upset in the competition. 

Tamil Union 164 for 9 wickets (20) (TM Dilshan 85, Pulina Tharanga 20n.o., Sampath Perera 4/24, Sanjika Ridma 2/31, Ajantha Mendis 2/39)

Army SC 170 for 5 wickets (17) (Pathum Dilshan 21, Asela Gunaratne 65n.o., Shalika Karunanayake 27, Seekkuge Prasanna 28, Shaminda Eranga 2/19)