Moors SC win Major Club U23 title with thrilling win over Ragama CC

Champions Team - Moors SC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Moors SC led by former Zahira College, Colombo batsman Mohammed Shamaaz won the Major Club Under23 title when they took first innings points off Ragama CC in the two-day final which ended in a draw at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Ragama CC resuming at 258-8 were dismissed for a challenging total of 293 with Theesan Vithushan, the left-arm spinner from Jaffna Central College capturing the remaining two wickets to finish with figures of 5 for 102 of 36.3 overs. Shashika Dulshan who was unbeaten on 29 overnight went on to complete a hard fought fifty (52 off 104 balls, 4 fours, 1 six).

Moors SC in their reply were cruising towards a first innings win at 262-3 with contributions from their top and middle order batters, when the game suddenly changed its course following the dismissal of Shamaaz for a well-constructed 73 off 87 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes).

From that point onwards Ragama CC took the upper hand as they grabbed five wickets for 15 runs to have Moors SC struggling at 277-8. The collapse was caused by left-arm spinners Dellon Peiris, the Ragama CC skipper and Shashika Dulshan who ended up taking eight wickets between them. However, former Carey College captain Shakoor Razni (14*) and former Gampaha Bandaranayake Vidyalaya cricketer Sisitha Madanayake (12) ensured that Moors SC would not be denied the win.  

Contributions for Moors SC’s top order came from Dinuka Dilshan (44 off 54 balls) and Sohan de Livera (72 off 57 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) who put on 112 for the second wicket, and from Janiksha Perera (72 off 128 balls, 7 fours) who added 136 for the fourth wicket with Shamaaz.

Moors SC picked up Rs. 500,000 as winner and Ragama CC took Rs. 300,000 as runner-up. Mohammed Shamaaz, the Moors SC captain was named the Player of the Final (Rs. 50,000), Ragama CC captain Dellon Peiris took the Player of the Tournament award (Rs. 100,000), Sakuna Liyanage (427 runs) of Ace Capital CC,the Best Batsman (Rs. 75,000) and Theesan Vithushan (34 wickets) of Moors SC, the Best Bowler (Rs. 50,000). The awards were presented by SLC Head of National Cricket Operations Chinthaka Edirimanne and SLC Tournament Committee secretary Kasun Fernando. (ST)

Scores: 

Ragama CC 293 (o/n 258-8) (Dulaj Bandara 73, Ranmith Jayasena 72, Dellon Peiris 27, Shashika Dulshan 52, Dinuka Dilshan 2/19, Theesan Vithushan 5/102)

Moors SC 298-9 (Dinuka Dilshan 44, Sohan de Livera 72, Janishka Perera 72, Mohammed Shamaaz 73, Shashika Dulshan 3/92, Dellon Peiris 5/102)