CCC dethrones defending champions SSC

 Ace Capital CC rejoice their entry into the final with victory over Moors SC        

• Ace Capital CC qualify for final of Major Clubs L/O tournament

Pavan Rathnayake celebrates his century for CCC against SSC

21-year-old Pavan Rathnayake, the former Mahanama College top order batsman hit a career best 157* as CCC dethroned defending champions SSC with a convincing eight-wicket win in the semi-final match of the SLC Major Clubs Limited Over tournament played at the P. Sara Oval yesterday.

Rathnayake and Anjala Bandara shared an unbroken third wicket partnership of 224 off 193 balls as CCC hunted down SSC’s total of 239 to win with 87 balls to spare.

Rathnayake struck 15 fours and 9 sixes in his 117-ball knock, and Bandara, a passive partner in the stand, hit 4 fours in his 60* off 78 balls.

SSC’s batting was dismantled by spinners Chaturanga de Silva, Sonal Dinusha and Lakshan Sandakan who took eight wickets between them.

In the other semi-final played at the SSC grounds, seamers Sithum Disanayake (4/40) and Nimsara Atharagalla (3/33) routed Moors SC for 124 to give Ace Capital CC a thumping win by 98 runs.

Put into bat Ace Capital CC were dismissed for 222 in the final over courtesy fifties from Sammu Ashan (62 off 87 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Wanuja Sahan (60 off 62 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes). Leg-spinner Danushka Udara was the pick of the Moors SC bowlers with figures of 4/39.

CCC and Ace Capital CC will meet in the final on Sunday at the SSC grounds. – (ST)

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

+At P Sara Oval: CCC beat SSC by 8 wickets.

SSC 239 (48.3) (Avishka Fernando 42, Shevon Daniel 24, Krishan Sanjula 41, Charith Asalanka 37, Nuwanidu Fernando 61, Chaturanga de Silva 3/41, Sonal Dinusha 2/32, Lakshan Sandakan 3/44)

CCC 245-2 (35.3) (Anjala Bandara 60*, Pavan Rathnayake 157*)

+At SSC grounds: Ace Capital CC beat Moors SC by 98 runs.

Ace Capital CC 222 (49.3) (Thanuka Dabare 43, Sammu Ashan 62, Wanuja Sahan 60, Ramesh Mendis 2/40, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 2/27, Danushka Udara 4/39)

Moors SC 124 (25.4) (Sohan de Livera 21, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 43, Sithum Disanayaka 3/36, Nimsara Atharagalla 3/33)