Sri Lanka Local - NCC Scrape Through (29 Jul 1996)

29 July 1996

Cricket: NCC scrape through

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

NCC`s ploy to contain ace pinch-hitter Sanath Jayasuriya with spin worked beautifully, but only just, as they scraped home by a mere one run to win the division I limited-over cricket final against defending champions Bloomfield at the Sara Stadium Sunday.

NCC employed similar tactics as New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup when off-spinner Aravinda de Silva played the role of Dipak Patel by opening the bowling. However, it was not De Silva who succeeded in getting the wicket of Jayasuriya, but his national team colleague fast bowler Ravindra Pushpakumara. Jayasuriya (4) pulled a short delivery only to see Lindon Hannibal take a superb catch at backward square-leg.

Despite the early loss of Jayasuriya, Bloomfield could have yet won chasing NCC`s moderate total of 127 off 28 overs when they reached 119 for 5 in the 26th over. But the dismissal of skipper Roshan Mahanama for 57 off 69 balls (4 fours) which ended a face-saving partnership of 85 off 18 overs with Kumara Dharmasena, saw the tied turn against the defending champs.

Further bad luck followed, when Dharmasena was caught off the rebound from his partner Pubudu Dasanayake`s leg when he on-drove Saranasekera with Bloomfield needing two runs off two balls. Dasanayake off-drove the last ball straight to De Silva at short extra-cover and had no chance of beating the throw to the nonstriker`s end.

Thus, Bloomfield lost a match which at one time they had total control over when the Mahanama-Dharmasena partnership was flourishing. The dismissal of these two experienced cricketers saw the later Bloomfield batsmen succumb to pressure which the NCC applied with good effect.

The game reduced to a 28-over shoot-out because of rain, saw NCC reach 127 for 8 after being put into bat first. Top scorer was Pradeep Hewage whose 36 off 44 balls (1 six, 2 fours) gave him the `Man of the Final` award.

Cricket Board president Upali Dharmadasa was the chief guest.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)