NCC clinch Premier limited over title

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

A combined team effort by NCC helped them to annex the Premier Limited Overs 2011/2012 title defeating traditional rivals SSC by 32 runs in the final played at the P. Sara Oval yesterday.

NCC who were sent into bat scored 268 in 49.5 overs as most of their batsmen contributed well engaging themselves in useful partnerships. They were given a reasonable start by test stars Upul Tharanga and Farveez Maharoof who put on 40 runs in 8.3 overs and the rest rallied around with Chamara Kapugedera top scoring with 64 off 56 deliveries striking five boundaries and two sixes. Angelo Perera was also among the runs with a well struck 41.

SSC in their turn were badly placed with 4 for 54 in the 11th over. Skipper Thilina Kandamby (50) off 76 deliveries with five boundaries and Kaushal Lokuarachchi (66) facing 84 balls with five fours added 109 runs for the fifth wicket. With the exception of W. Jayampathy (31) the rest of the SSC batting was not sufficient enough to pull the match in their favour.

NCC 268 in 49.5 overs ( Farveez Maharoof 52, Upul Tharanga 24, Chamara Kapugedera 64, Kosala Kulasekera 27, Angelo Perera 41, S.Senanayake 3 for 46, W.Jayampathy 3 for 48, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 2 for 46).

SSC 236 in 47.2 overs (Bhanuka Rajapakse 25, Thilina Kandamby 50, Kaushal lokuarachchi 66, W.Jayampathi 31, S.Senanayake 17, Thilan Thushara 2 for 41, , Farveez Maharoof 2 for 42, Jehan Mubarak 2 for 32).