Colts aiming to put the record straight in their 150th year

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Beaten finalist of last year Colts have qualified for the semi-finals of the SLC Major Clubs T20 tournament to give themselves another chance of winning the title in their 150th anniversary when they take on Ace Capital CC at the P Sara Oval in the second match scheduled to commence at 2 p.m.

The first semi-final at the same venue is between NCC and Moors SC commencing 10 a.m. which could turn out to be a high voltage contest with both teams finishing their respective groups with a similar record of four wins and one no-result.

From the teams that reached the semi-finals in last year’s tournament only Colts have survived and come through. Reigning champions Army SC who beat Colts in the final last year by 45 runs failed to qualify finishing third in their group, while BRC also finished similarly in their group. The fourth team Saracens SC did not participate in this year’s tournament following their demotion from the SLC 3-day Major League.

NCC who won only one of their four group matches last year have done well to reach the semi-finals while Moors SC and Ace Capital CC (formerly SLPACC – Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC) were unlucky last year to make it to the last four finishing runner-up in their respective groups.

The NCC-Moors SC contest will see a clash between the leading run scorer and the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. Former Sri Lanka white ball captain Upul Tharanga has been in serene form stroking his way to the only century of the tournament and a fifty as well in compiling the highest aggregate of 190 runs (avg. 95.00) with an imposing strike rate of 152. Spinners Asel Sigera (9 wickets, avg. 7.33) and Ashian Daniel (8 wickets, avg 11.37) form the core of NCC’s bowling attack. NCC is captain by Test discard Niroshan Dickwella who has yet to make an impact in the tournament.

Moors SC’s trump card has been fast bowling all-rounder Lahiru Samarakoon who is the leading wicket taker with 12 wickets conceding only 52 runs for an astonishing average of 4.33 which is lower than his economy rate of 4.45. He has good support from Sri Lanka U19 cricketer Malsha Tharupathi who has captured 7 wickets (avg. 7.00) with his leg breaks. Moors SC batting has relied on the scoring power of Sohan de Livera (strike rate 143.90) and Mohamed Shamaz (116.6) who has scored the only fifty for them, and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinuka Dilshan and Janishka Perera. They are led by Sri Lanka Test off-spinner Ramesh Mendis.

Colts captained by former Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya have made it to the last four largely on their bowling where seamer Udith Madushan, and spinners Muditha Lakshan and Dananjaya have each captured seven wickets. As for the batting only Jehan Daniel has crossed the fifty mark once for them although there have been useful contributions down the order.

The key to Ace Capital CC’s success has been their hard-hitting left-handed opener Thanuka Dabare who is the third highest run getter in the tournament with 162 runs and an impressive strike rate of 190.58 with two fifties. If Colts hope to make any headway, they need to get his wicket quickly for once he settles down, he can take the game away from the opposition with his clean striking. There is also the off-breaks of Ace Capital CC skipper Roshan Jayatissa to contend with. Jayatissa has been the main strike bowler for his team with 10 wickets at an average of 10.90.