Ashan guides Ace Capital CC to first Major Club title

Major Clubs Limited Over champion Ace Capital CC

Sammu Ashan played a match-winning innings of 97* for Ace Capital CC

• SLC Major Clubs Limited Over final

Sammu Ashan, the former Ananda College top order batsman, played perhaps his most important innings in a one-day limited-over match, when he scored an undefeated 97* off 111 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes) to guide Ace Capital CC to their first major domestic title when they beat CCC by four wickets in the final over of the SLC Major Clubs Limited Over final played at the SSC Grounds yesterday.

Until the 47th over, CCC had the game under control as Ace Capital CC chased a target of 252 for victory. Ace Capital CC were 223-6 and required 29 off the final three overs. Their task was made easy when Ravindu Ratnayake, the former Isipathana College southpaw, hit Sri Lanka Under19 seamer Duvindu Ranatunga for 20 runs in the 48th over which cost 21, so that only eight was needed off the last two. Six was scored off the 49th and Ashan hit the first ball of the final over for four to seal a magnificent victory for his team which has undergone three different names – Seeduwa-Raddoluwa CC, Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC, and Ace Capital CC.

Invited to bat first, CCC recovered from losing seven wickets for 141 to post a competitive score of 251, largely due to rearguard innings of 80 off 46 balls (7 fours, 7 sixes) from former Sri Lanka white ball cricketer Isuru Udana. Ace Capital CC bowlers did a splendid job to dismiss CCC with 4.1 overs remaining.  As winners, Ace Capital CC picked up a cheque for Rs. 3 million while CCC received Rs. 2.5 million as runner-up. – (ST)

Scores: 

CCC 251 (45.5) (Lasith Croospulle 33, Anjala Bandara 29, Sonal Dinusha 27, Chamindu Wijesinghe 23, Isuru Udana 80, Nimsara Atharagalla 3/55, Wanuja Sahan 3/47)

Ace Capital CC 254-6 (49.1) (Thanuka Dabare 48, Raveen de Silva 38, Sammu Ashan 97*, Sakuna Liyanage 25, Ravindu Ratnayake 22*, Isuru Udana 2/47, Sonal Dinusha 2/33)