SSC crush Colts in the Second Semi-final of Limited Overs Championship

An emphatic eight victory over Colts Cricket Club means that the Singhalese Sports Club will play Tamil Union in next weekends Limited Overs final. In yet another low scoring affair Colts limped to 160-9 in their fifty overs thanks to a very patient and responsible innings by Chaminda Vaas. Despite his heroics such a score was never going to be enough and the SSC raced to victory, reaching the target with 20 overs remaining.

In their defence the Colts had the worst of the pitch when they lost the toss and were asked to bat. During first 30 minutes of play the ball lifted alarmingly at times and even forced the premature retirement of Chaminda Mendis after a blow on the hand. However the sun soon burnt off the early morning moisture and this appeared to placate the pitch.

Whilst the bounce was still uneven the coach of this Colts side, Roy Dias, will not be blaming the groundsman. The players only have themselves to blame as none of the wickets could be directly attributed to the wicket.

Romesh Kaluwithrana's (1) return to domestic cricket resulted in almost immediate disappointment as the lithe limbed and shaven headed Gamage took a wonderful one handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss Kalu in the third over. When Avishka Gunawardana took a sensational diving catch at slip to dismiss the inform Sajith Fernando (7) in the tenth over, the Colts may have pondered whether it was going to be one of those days.

With Chaminda Mendis off the field receiving treatment after his painful blow the captain, Dulip Samaraweera (21), and S. Janaka (9) set about repairing the early damage. Dulip was the more impressive of the two and was the only batsmen, apart from Vaas, who looked capable of compiling a match winning innings.

Alas it wasn't to be. Janaka was run out after a misunderstanding and Dulip was bowled by Dhammika's very first delivery to leave them 61-4. The SSC spinners now took control and never let the batsmen regain the initiative. The off spinners, Upeka Fernando (2-20) and Tilan Samarweera (3-14), were particularly miserly. Their accuracy gnawing away at the batsmen patience and ultimately frustrating them into making rash shots.

The Colts collapsed to 127-9. However whilst his partners came and went Chaminda Vaas (62*) was using all his experience to compile an unbeaten half century. Probably enjoying this rare opportunity to have away from the limelight he mixed watchful defense with controlled aggression. Taking 17 off the penultimate over, including two classic sixes over the fast bowler's head, he at least gave the Colts a target to bowl at.

With talk about the pitch rife around the ground during the lunch break the Colts players must have felt they had a chance. Despite their powerful batting line-up the SSC have often collapsed against lesser opponents.

Today though the SSC batsmen never looked like failing right from the very first over. Avishka Gunawardena (59) played a little gem of an innings that took the game away from Colts in just ten overs. The tall left hander was particularly severe on anything short of off stump and slashed one delivery over point for point for six.

When Kalavtidoda (6) was dismissed in the 4th over, Sanjeeva Ranatunga (56*) joined Avishka and rotated the strike well. Sanjeeva was content to pick up singles at the start and watch his partner take the attack to the unpenetrative and inaccurate bowlers. None of whom, with the exception of Sajith Fernando with his dart like off spin, settled into a good rhythm, and were perhaps trying a little hard too make things happen when accuracy and control were the order of the day.

When Avishka was foolishly run-out by an arrow like throw from J. Sigera on the boundary and was replaced by the nimble footed Jayawardena, the bowlers plight did not improve. In his relaxed and balanced manner he appeared to play the bowling at will and enjoyed the opportunity to play again on home soil.

After a tedious last five overs the target was finally reached in the 31st over and the players left the field without fanfare or excitement. Was this really a semi-final?