Nittambuwa and Matale Ladies enter final

Defending champions Nittambuwa Ladies and Matale Ladies advanced to the final of the Women’s Murali Harmony Cup when they coasted to an easy wins over North/East Combined Ladies and Moneragala Ladies Academy in their last preliminary round match played at Mankulam MV ground yesterday.

The wins saw the two teams come out as leaders of the two groups which ensured them the final clash.

In the Group A match played in the morning session between Nittambuwa Ladies and North/East Combined Ladies saw the latter taking first lease of the wicket being bundled out for a meager score of just 54 runs.

Nittambuwa Ladies in pursuit of 55 runs was guided by an unbeaten knock of 23 by Sachini Dilshani which helped them to reach the target in just 5.4 overs.

In the Group B match played later in 12th over.

But a rush of blood by the late order batting saw them losing wickets at regularly putting themselves under pressure. From a healthy position of 82 for 3 they collapsed to 124 for 7 in the 19th over before being restricted to a score of 132 to give Mahinda a seven run win.

In the second semi-final St Joseph’s skipper Harin Cooray the day between Matale Ladies and Moneragala Ladies Academy saw Matale Ladies cruise through to a comfortable 56 runs win over Moneragala Ladies Academy which was played at the same venue. won the toss and opted to take first lease of the wicket was given a solid start by openers Revan Kelly and Nipun Sumanasinghe who together put on 51 runs in 42 balls.

But the middle and late order batting faltered and despite an unbeaten 34 made by Pahan Perera the Josephians was able to muster a score of only 120 runs which was not going sufficient to defend.

In contrast Nalanda in their run