Unbeaten Colts crowned champions
After a long wait of 14 years, Colombo Colts Cricket Club, or Colts as they are well-known, snatched the SLC Major League Cricket Tournament 2025/26 following their dramatic first-innings win against Nondescript Cricket Club (NCC) in the crucial final week’s play. In the final week of the Super Eight round, Colts needed a close win and that is exactly what they achieved to complete a dominant and unbeaten campaign.
In the final week from March 28 to 30, Colts met NCC at Pallekele. Batting first, NCC put up a commanding total of 431 runs, to which Colts responded with an overriding performance to surpass the target that would ensure them the title. With contributions from veteran Dinesh Chandimal, who anchored Colts with a brilliant knock of 144 off 177 deliveries, and an unbeaten 100 from Sanoj Darshika, who faced 186 deliveries, the team reached 441 for 8 before declaring. By the time NCC faced the remaining 27 overs on the final day and posted 161 for no loss, Colts had already secured the crucial first-innings points that declared them champions.
Colts captain Dhananjaya Lakshan led a team that consisted of well-experienced players in the calibre of Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, Sangeeth Coorey, Kavishka Anjula, Dilshan Madushanka and Dunith Wellalage. The side was always at the forefront in SLC-conducted tournaments at all levels. Winning the Premier title after nearly one-and-a-half decades in such a manner is phenomenal, said Chaminda Mendis, the Chairman of the Cricket Committee at Colts.
The overall achievement of Colts, however, came after a close shave as they topped the Super Eight standings with one win and six draws after seven games. They finished with 72.765 points, pushing Ace Capital to second position after the latter recorded their second outright win by seven wickets against Police Sports Club in the final week. Though Ace Capital won their last game to finish with two wins and three draws, the two losses they suffered left them with 71.795 points after seven Super Eight games.
The entire team, including the management of Colts and the support staff, had one goal this season, and that was to win the championship, Mendis added.
Competing under Group A, Colts completed their first round campaign against Police SC, CCC and Bloomfield to reach the Super Eight stage. There too, Colts advanced without defeat, winning one and drawing five of the six games they played, while from Group B Ace Capital topped with two wins, three draws and a loss to enter the Super Eight stage.
Our coaching staff led by Anil Rideegammanagedara had the fullest support from his assistant Wasantha Thushara, along with the physio, trainer and throw-down specialists. Team manager S. Kadawatharachchi did a fantastic job overall.
Colts had the services of young players Muditha Lakshan, Ravindu Rashantha, Uditha Madushan, Sukitha Manoj, Sheron Fonseka, Harshana Wickremasinghe, Yohan Mendis, Shalin de Mel and Shriram, who played their parts in contributing to the win. In the batting department, consistency was shown by seasoned campaigners Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Ravindu Rashantha and Sanoj Darshika, all of whom scored centuries when needed.
In bowling, spinner Akila Dananjaya was the leading wicket-taker for Colts with 53 scalps, followed by Uditha Madushan, Kavishka Anjula and Muditha Lakshan. The Cricket Committee led by Chaminda Mendis, also the Vice President of Colts, along with Cricket Secretary Malcolm Perera, was responsible for introducing a solid cricket structure that resulted in many young players joining the club.
We also awarded three-year contracts to 22 players, which gave them stability at the club and strengthened their loyalty towards Colts. The doors were open to youngsters who opted to stay with Colts despite financial offers from other clubs. Nishantha Ranatunga, the President of Colts, General Secretary Shiran Abeysekera and the Executive Committee were instrumental in guiding the Cricket Committee in important situations and taking crucial decisions to benefit Colts, Mendis stated.