Kaushalya pilots them to victory with a sparkling 61 n.o.:

Ragama Cricket Club clinch first major title

by Sajeewa Jayakody

Kaushalya Weeraratne’s unbeaten half ton brightened the SSC grounds yesterday as Ragama Cricket Club won their first major title when they emerged winners for the first time of the Premier Limited Over Cricket Tournament beating home team SSC by four wickets at the SSC grounds.

The 32-year-old left-hander showcased a brilliant innings of 61 runs off 39 deliveries and bolstered the Ragama CC innings when they were in a not too happy situation after losing four wickets for 146 runs. The tall all-rounder’s hard hitting approach brought victory for Ragama CC when he hit a massive six onto the sight screen off part timer Tharanga Paranavithana in the 44th over.

Chasing a gettable target of 219 in a familiar batting track, Ragama were restricted to 28 for 2 due to SSC opening bowler Amil Prasad’s early strike.

One time Ragama had lost four wickets for 90 runs but all-rounder Shalika Karunanayake and captain Sameera de Zoysa put on a vital 56-run stand for the fifth wicket as they batted patiently before wicket keeper Kaushal Silva stumped Karunanayake brilliantly for 29 off leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

Then skipper Zoysa was well deceived by Sachithra Senanayake as the left-hander was caught at point when he tried to go for a big hit. Weeraratne thrilled the spectators as he smashed three big hits (4, 4, and 6) in a row off Amil Prasad in the 39th over. Weeraratne’s domination continued in the 41th over off part time off spinner Paranavithana when he hit continuous two fours through the covers.

After winning the toss, Ragama CC opted to field first to gain the early advantage of the SSC wicket and right arm fast bowler Weeraratne struck early as the Test opener Tharanga Paranavithana was trapped lbw off a moving ball. SSC innings was opened by two Test openers, as Dimuth Karunaratne also joined yesterday after three Tests in Australia.

One drop Bhanuka Rajapakse scored a wonderful half century as the elegant left-hander hammered a 43-ball 56 runs which was studded with four fours and two sixes. SSC were in a commanding position when Karunaratne and Rajapakse were batting as one stage they were 1 for 90 before Karunaratne was caught for 29 off De Silva. The two left-handers added 82 runs for the second wicket, which was the highest partnership in the match.

For SSC, inform all-rounder Kaushalya Lokuarachchi fired again as he hammered valuable 56 runs with four fours and two sixes off 43 balls. Malinga Bandara did the damage for SSC’s tail as the leg-spinner picked-up three wickets for 33 runs in his 10 overs. When SSC were struggling for runs, fast bowler Amil Prasad hit 29 runs with three sixes and two fours before they were bowled out for 218 in the 44th over.

SSC: 218 in 43.2 overs (Kaushalya Lokuarachchi 56, Bhanuka Rajapakse 51, Dimuth Karunaratne 29, Amil Prasad 29, Malinga Bandara 3/33, Madura Lakmal 2/33, Kaushalya Weeraratne 1/45).

Ragama CC: 224/6 in 43.4 overs (Kaushalya Weeraratne 61 n.o, Sameera de Zoysa 46, Shalika Karunanayake 29, Ian Daniel 18, Sachithra Senanayake 2/31, Kaushalya Lokuarachchi 2/45, Amil Prasad 2/36).