Defending champions NCC through to final on toss of coin

Thursday, 27 June 2024 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ravija Sandaruwan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa put on an opening stand of 55 for BRC

Dinuka Dilshan of Moors SC rattled the Bloomfield top order with three wickets for 8 runs

Lahiru Madushanka and Nipun Karunanayake saw Bloomfield home with an unbroken stand of 42

Meet Bloomfield in final of SLC Major Clubs T20 tomorrow

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Defending champions NCC won through to the final of the SLC Major Clubs T20 tournament on the toss of a coin when their semi-final match against BRC ended in a no-result at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

In a match reduced to 9 overs-a-side due to wet ground conditions, BRC invited to bat first reached 61-1 in 6.2 overs when the rains came and prevented any further play forcing the match to be abandoned.

According to the playing conditions in such circumstances the toss of a coin will decide the winner. In this instance, Niroshan Dickwella, the NCC skipper called correctly and his team was through to defend the title which they won last year as joint champions with Colts when the final was abandoned without a ball bowled.

Ravija Sandaruwan made 39 of the runs BRC scored off 23 balls with two fours and four sixes in an opening stand of 55 off 35 balls with Bhanuka Rajapaksa (19*).

With the weather improving slightly, the second semi-final played at the same venue in the afternoon saw Bloomfield beat Moors SC by four wickets with three balls to spare in an 8-over shoot-out.

Bloomfield, deciding to field first, restricted Moors SC to 70-9 through spinners Sahan Nanayakkara (4/13) and Jeffrey Vandersay (2/10). Sohan de Livera was the top scorer with 21.

In reply, Moor SC had Bloomfield reeling at 18-4 with dual purpose bowler Dinuka Dilshan capturing 3/8. They slipped further to 31-6 when seamer Shiran Fernando took two wickets in one over. But Lahiru Madushanka (26* off 12 balls) and skipper Nipun Karunanayake (21* off 8 balls) came together in an unbroken partnership of 42 off 17 balls to ensure Bloomfield reached their target without any further alarms.

Bloomfield will play NCC in the final on Friday at the same venue commencing 9.45 a.m.