SLC Greens clinch 23-run win to claim SLC T20 League title
SLC Greens powered their way to a convincing 23-run victory over SLC Greys in the SLC T20 League final, after posting a formidable 189-4 and then restricting their opponents to 166-8 at the SSC grounds yesterday.
Having lost Kamil Mishara off the very first ball, Greens were steadied by the brilliance of Kusal Mendis, who struck a sparkling 77 off 47 balls with five fours and five sixes. He received strong support from Sadeera Samarawickrama (49 not out in 29 balls) and skipper Kamindu Mendis (42 not out in 23 balls), the pair ensuring a blistering finish that set a daunting target.
In reply, the Greys began aggressively with Dinesh Chandimal (36 off 21) and Niroshan Dickwella (50 off 28) putting up 70 in the powerplay. However, the dismissal of Chandimal in the sixth over triggered a slide. Dickwella soon followed, and despite cameos from Charith Asalanka and Ramesh Mendis, the chase lost momentum.
The Greens’ bowlers, led by Chamika Karunaratne (3/24), Dushmantha Chameera (2/26), and Kamindu Mendis (2/25), tightened the screws in the middle and death overs, preventing any late charge. The three-team tournament was played to prepare the national team for the forthcoming series against Zimbabwe and the Asia Cup.
| Brief Scores | |
| SLC Greens 189 for 4 (20) (Kusal Mendis 77, Sadeera Samarawickrama 49n.o., Kamindu Mendis 42n.o., Bhanuka Rajapaksa 18; Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2/45, Ramesh Mendis 1/18) SLC Greys 166 for 8 (20) (Niroshan Dickwella 50, Dinesh Chandimal 36, Charith Asalanka 21; Chamika Karunaratne 3/24, Kamindu Mendis 2/25, Dushmantha Chameera 2/26, Kamil Mishara 1/14) |