Cricket: Tamil Union beat NCC by 3 wickets to reach T20 final

Tamil Union beat NCC by 3 wickets with seven balls to spare to reach the final of the AIA Premier Inter-Club Twenty20 Cricket Tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today (23).

Put into bat first NCC posted 178-9 and Tamil Union reached 182-7 to win the first semi-final, after opener TM Dilshan smashed an unbeaten 95 off 55 deliveries. 

While the Tamil Union top order collapsed, Dilshan kept on fighting hitting nine fours and five sixes.

Late in the order Jeewan Mendis smashed 32 off 23 deliveries with two fours and two sixes and Ramith Rambukwella clobbered 36 off 20 deliveries inclusive of two fours and three wixes. 

Isuru Udana captured three wickets while Chamikara Edirisinghe, Dushmantha Chameera and Anuk Fernando claimed a wicket each. 

Earlier on NCC made a good start after their top order clicked well with openers Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal making runs. 

Chandimal top scored for NCC with a 36-ball 63 which had seven fours and two sixes. 

Dickwella hit 31 off 25 deliveries with five fours and a six and Tharanga made 33 off 24 deliveries with a four and three sixes. 

Jehan Mubarak hit 24 off 16 balls with three fours and a six. 

Suranga Lakmal, Ramith Rambukwella and Charith Jayampathi claimed two wickets each while Dilshan and Shaminda Eranga picked a wicket each. 

Tamil Union will meet the winner of the second semi-final between SSC and Army on Sunday (24) at the R. Premadasa Stadium. 

NCC 178 for 9 wickets (20) (Niroshan Dickwella 31, Upul Tharanga 33, Dinesh Chandimal 63, Jehan Mubarak 24, Suranga Lakmal 2/23, Ramith Rambukwella 2/25, Charith Jayampathi 2/32)

Tamil Union 182 for 7 wickets (18.5) (TM Dilshan 95, Jeewan Mendis 32, Ramith Rambukwella 36, Isuru Udana 3/53)