Under 23 Final: Sasanka, Danal guide Ace Capital CC to title victory

Champions Ace Capital CC 

 First-runners up Moors SC (Photo credits: SLC)

By M. Shamil Amit

Two fine knocks by Sasanka Nirmal and Danal Hemananda paved the way for Ace Capital CC to record a comfortable first-inning win over Moors SC in the final of the Under-23 two-day cricket tournament played at the Colts CC ground, which helped them to emerge champions.

The pair came to the rescue of the side when they were struggling on 110/5 in pursuit of 234 runs to gain a first-inning lead to clinch the title.

They lost three quick wickets for the addition of 19 runs and slid to 129/8 before Sasanka, who made an unbeaten 106 in 167 balls inclusive of nine boundaries and two sixes, and Danal, who made 70 with seven boundaries and a six, put on a match-winning 166-run stand for the ninth wicket, which helped them end their innings with a formidable score of 317 runs to clinch the title.

This was Ace Capital CC’s second major title, which they won within two months after earlier clinching the Major Club limited over title, defeating CCC in the final.

Ravishan de Silva of Moors SC and Vihas Thewmika of Tamil Union were adjudged the best batsman and best bowler of the tournament, while Yesith Rupasinghe of Moors SC was adjudged the man of the tournament and Sasanka Nirmal of Ace Capital CC the man of the match in the final encounter.

Results:

At Colts – First inning win for Ace Capital CC
Moors SC 233 (Janishka Perera 92, Yesith Rupasinghe 33, Omesh Mendis 27, Ravishan de Silva 23, Senitha Halambage 16; Kavindu Amantha 3/19, Raveen de Silva 3/32) and 124/3 (Omesh Mendis 50, Ravishan de Silva 16, Yesith Rupasinghe 30 n.o.; Melan Hansaka 2/17)
Ace Capital CC (110/5 overnight) 317 (Danal Hemananda 70, Raveen de Silva 44, Sakuna Liyanage 24, Sasanka Nirmal 106 n.o.; Janishka Perera 3/52, Yesith Rupasinghe 3/53)