NCC, Ragama CC battle for supremacy
The curtains of the SLC Major Club Limited Over Cricket Tournament will come down today with one of the two unbeaten sides — NCC and Ragama CC — set to lose their unblemished run. The match is scheduled to begin at 9.45am onwards at the SSC ground in Colombo.
The two teams, since the tournament got underway in late March, played five matches and remain unbeaten. NCC, led by Angelo Perera, defeated Tamil Union, Negombo CC, Kalutara TC, Ace Capital CC and Nugegoda SWC to top Group ‘C’ with 23 points.
Ragama CC, spearheaded by Ishan Jayaratne, too played the same number of matches securing wins against Navy SC, defending champions Chilaw Marians, Galle CC, Panadura SC and Lankan CC to top Group ‘B’ with 23 points.
In the semi-finals NCC achieved a 18-run win against Badureliya CC while Ragama CC outclassed Army SC by 8 wickets.
The two sides posses top notch players as NCC will highly rely their batting on Chathuranga de Silva, skipper Angelo Perera and Kamil Mishara. The return of Upul Tharanga will boost NCC’s batting. The bowling will be spearheaded by allrounder Chathuranga de Silva with support expected from Lahiru Kumara, Ashien Daniel and Chamika Karunaratne.
Ragama CC, on the other hand, are not easy nuts to crack as they have in their ranks the top batsman and bowler of the tournament so far — Janith Liyanage and Binura Fernando. Both have a big responsibility on their shoulders in the crucial game today.
Nishan Madushka and Saminda Fernando, Dineth Thimodya, Sanjula Bandara and Udara Jayasundara are others who can contribute.
The bowling will be in the hands of Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and skipper Ishan Jayaratne.
However, with cricket being a game of uncertainty predicting an outcome is not that easy and with both the teams coming into the game with an unbeaten record, will make the final an interesting tussle.
| The teams | |
| Ragama CC: Ishan Jayaratne (Capt), Amila Aponso, Saminda Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Dineth Thimodya, Janith Liyanage, Binura Fernando, Udara Jayasundara, Sanjula Bandara, Shashika Dulshan, Shehan Sandaruwan, Janaka Sampath, Manisha Rupasinghe, Dellon Peiris NCC: Angelo Perera (Capt), Upul Tharanga, Chathuranga de Silva, Kamil Mishara, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Sahan Arachchige, Kaveen Bandara, Ashien Daniel, Yugeesha Dishan. Hasitha Boyagoda, Lahiru Udara, Chamika Gunasekera, Nimesh de Silva, Dineth Jayakody |