BRC and Colts in final showdown today
BRC and Colts qualified for the final of the Premier T20 cricket tournament after recording convincing wins over Panadura SC and NCC in the two semi finals played at the SSC grounds yesterday. BRC as expected recorded an easy 37 run win over Panadura SC while Colts had little difficulty in overcoming NCC by 64 runs. The BRC team deserved to be one of the teams in the final as their performance in the T20 tournament since it commenced a week ago was something special.
They overcame top teams in the Tier ‘A’ category and proved their mettle in the semi final encounter too. The two teams will now clash in the final today which will be played after the third place play off between NCC and Panadura due to be played at 9.45 a.m.
Teameffortseesbrcthrough
The foundation for the BRC win was laid by Krishal Magage and Maduranga Zoysa who put an unbroken 64 run stand for the ninth wicket when the side was struggling at 92 for 8 in the 16th over.
The pair required only 29 balls with Krishal making a 24 ball knock of 45 inclusive of two boundaries and three sixes and Maduranga chipping in with a 27 from only 14 balls which had two boundaries and two sixes.
From there on right arm pacies skipper Nimesh Perera and Andy Solomons and spinner Thamara Abeyratne led the fight back. The trio combined to cripple Panadura’s top order
batting to have them struggling at 67 for 5 in the tenth over.
BRC 156 for 8 in 20 overs (Delon Udugamasuriya 24, Andy Solomons 21, Krishal Magage 45 n.o., Maduranga Zoysa 27 n.o.: Nilantha Cooray 3 for 27, Kelum Fernando 2 for 14)
Panadura SC 119 in 16.4 overs (Indika Massalage 31, Nilantha Cooray 31, Sudesh Umayanga 21: Nimesh Perera 4 for 26, Andy Solomons 3 for 22, Thamara Abeyratne 2 for 13)
Skipper Malinda guides Colts
Colts skipper Malinda Warnapura guided his side to the final with a swashbuckling knock of 95 against NCC in the other semi-final. Malinda came to his sides rescue when they lost two early wickets after being invited to take first lease of the wicket.malinda’s knock which came in only 46 balls comprised eight boundaries and seven towering sixes and was involved in a 108 run stand for the third wicket with Roshen Silva who made a run a ball 36 enabling Colts post a formidable 190.
NCC in reply lost two wickets in the first two overs and despite a 68 run partnership for the third wicket between skipper Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak NCC were found wanting.
Colts 190 for 7 in 20 overs (Malinda Warnapura 95, Roshen Silva 36, Chathura Peiris 19 n.o.: Farveez Maharoof 2 for 23)
NCC 126 in 15.1 overs (Upul Tharanga 56, Jehan Mubarak 33: Chathuranga Kumara 2 for 16, Dilruwan Perera 2 for 26)