SLC Greys outclass SLC Reds to emerge champions

By M. Shamil Amit

SLC Greys led by allrounder Dasun Shanaka clinched the SLC Invitational T20 title with a convincing 42 run win over Dinesh Chandimal led SLC Reds in the final played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

SLC Reds chasing a massive target of 202 runs was never going to be in the challenge after losing their top three batsmen Avishka Fernando, skipper Chandimal and Seekkuge Prasanna with the score on 35 in the sixth over.

Despite a fighting knock of 48 from Oshada Fernando and some resistance later in the innings by Asela Gunaratne and Akila Dhananjaya saw them mustering a score of only 159 runs.

The foundation for SLC Greys win was laid by three fine knocks coming from Minod Bhanuka who slammed 74 runs in just 51 balls that included 12 boundaries, Nuwanidu Fernando 47 in 36 balls with five boundaries and an enterprising unbeaten 17 ball knock of 48 inclusive of four boundaries and four sixes by skipper Shanaka.
SLC Greys batsmen smothered the SLC Reds bowling in the latter part of the innings with Bhanuka and Nuwanidu sharing a valuable 82 runs in 58 balls for the third wicket followed by Nuwanidu adding 53 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Shanaka.

Skipper Shanaka continued from there on took control as he put on a quick fire unbroken 33 runs in just nine balls for the fifth wicket with Lahiru Madusanka. In the last five overs the SLC Greys batsmen tore the bowling attack as they accumulated a whopping 81 runs to end with a formidable score of 201 for 4.

The win saw SLC Greys ending the tournament with an unbeaten record by recording their fifth win and two matches ending in no results.

Result:
At Pallekele Stadium – SLC Greys won by 42 runs
SLC Greys: 201 for 4 in 20 overs (Minod Bhanuka 74, Nuwanindu Fernando 46, Dasun Shanaka 48 n.o.: Akila Dhananjaya 2 for 34)
SLC Reds: 159 in 19.3 overs (Oshada Fernando 48. Asela Gunaratne 22, Akila Dhananjaya 25 n.o.: Nuwan Pradeep 2 for 17, Matheesha Pathirana 2 for 28)