Sebastianites, Colts, Badureliya SC join SSC in semi-finals

Sebastianites and Colts from Group A and Badureliya SC from Group B joined SSC in the semi-finals of the SLC Major Club Limited Overs tournament following the completion of the group matches yesterday.

SSC had already booked their place in the last four by topping Group B with seven wins and 16 points. Badureliya SC finished second with six wins and 14 points. Sebastianites headed Group A with six wins and 15 points with Colts in second place with six wins and 14 points. Colts pipped Negombo CC to second place on a better net run rate. Negombo CC also finished on 14 points.

The semi-final line-up is: Sebastianites v Badureliya SC at NCC grounds on 13 January and SSC v Colts at NCC grounds on 14 January. The final will take place at the SSC grounds on 16 January.

In yesterday’s matches Sebastianites (83/2) beat Air Force SC (77) by eight wickets at Panadura with seamer Charith Rajapaksa returning career best figures of 4/30 and Dushan Vimukthi scoring 53 off 43 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes).

Dunith Wellalage, overlooked for the ongoing ODI series against Zimbabwe produced a fine all-round performance (4/16 and 52* off 55 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) to enable Colts beat Kurunegala YCC by five wickets at Colts grounds. Wellalage and Dhananjaya Lakshan (45* off 49 balls) put on an unbroken 99-run stand to see Colts home after being 65-5 chasing 164 for victory.

Badureliya SC’s game against Chilaw Marians CC (170/8) at Maggona ended in a no-result with rain affecting play. But the one point Badureliya SC gained from that result was enough for them to retain second place.

In the other games completed yesterday, left-arm spinner Danushka Sandaruwan took 5/29 for Negombo CC (121/7) in their three-wicket win over Ragama CC (116) at Moors grounds, CCC (103/3) beat Tamil Union (102/8) at P Sara Oval, Bloomfield (102/9) pulled off a thrilling one-wicket win over NCC (101) at Bloomfield grounds with Nipun Karunanayake playing a captain’s knock of 50* off 99 balls (2 fours, 1 six) to steer them home and Ace Capital CC (156/8) beat Army SC (153) by two wickets at Panagoda.

BRC (173/7) and Nugegoda SWC (72/5) played out a no-result at Moratuwa, while the match between Galle CC and Police SC at Galle ended in a no-result without a ball bowled. – (ST)