Dickwella, Daniel help NCC annihilate Tamil Union

Niroshan Dickwella and Lahiru Udara figured in an opening stand 

of 168 for NCC against Tamil Union    

SLC Major Club Limited Overs Tournament

Sri Lanka white ball discard Niroshan Dickwella slammed a 55-ball century and off-spinner Ashian Daniel took four wickets for 41 runs as NCC annihilated Tamil Union by a massive margin of 228 runs to begin their SLC Major Clubs Limited Over tournament campaign on a winning note at NCC grounds yesterday.

Tamil Union were left to rue their decision to invite NCC to bat first as they posted an imposing total of 359-8 courtesy an explosive opening partnership of 168 in 15 overs between Dickwella who scored a stroke-filled 112 off 59 balls inclusive of 8 fours and 8 sixes, and Lahiru Udara who made 88 off 54 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes).

NCC lost four wickets for 23 runs in the middle overs to slump to 256-6, but Kavin Bandara (42 off 49 balls, 2 fours) and Chamika Gunasekara (51* off 59 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes) continued to pile on the agony for Tamil Union with another productive stand of 76 to carry past the 300-run mark.

Tamil Union got their run chase off on the wrong foot when they lost opener Sandun Weerakkody for a duck to the fourth ball of the innings. Despite a second wicket stand of 54 by Tharindu Harshana (11) and Sineth Jayawardena, the Sri Lanka U19 captain (33), Tamil Union failed to put together any noteworthy partnerships to challenge the NCC total and succumbed for 131 in the 20th over. Daniel was the chief destroyer and had the support of Lasith Embuldeniya (2/8) and Chamika Karunaratne (2/34). 

– (ST)