A belligerent innings from Dashing left-hander Bhanuka Rajapaksa helped Nondescript Cricket Club (NCC) to clinch Major League T20 title, as they defeated Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) in the final, played at P. Sara Oval on Thursday.
After winning the toss, CCC asked NCC to bat first. Sri Lanka discarded Wicket keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella returned to pavilion for just one run, but Bhanuka played a defining knock. He smashed five towering sixes during his enterprising knock of 79 and added 126 runs for the third wicket with Mahela Udawatte, who made fine 68 in just 50 balls. The partnership helped NCC to put a strong total of 183 for 7 in 20 overs. For CCC, Slinga Nuwan Tushara picked four wickets in his four overs for 32 runs.
Chasing 184, CCC lost Dilshan Munaveera early. However, a partnership of 58 runs between Sachith Pathirana and Ashan Priyanjan kept them going. Pathirana Smashed 47 in just 26 balls including four sixes, but after his departure the middle order couldn’t maintain the asking rate and and lost the match by 7 runs.
Scorecard
NCC-184(20), Bhanuka-79 Udawatte-68 N Thushara-4/32
CCC-177(19.3), Pathirana-47 Hasaranga-42 Chamika K-4/28 Lahiru K-3/31 Malinga-1/36.
