Ragama embarrass SSC for the Premier ODI title

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SSC may have probably done better without the national stars as hosts succumbed to their second title defeat in a row to Ragama CC in the Premier Limited over final at SSC grounds yesterday.

 

In reply to hosts 218, Ragama made 224 without much hassle to inflict an embarrassing defeat to the star-studded SSC. This was Ragama’s first  premier title. SSC lost to NCC in the finals last year.

SSC had the services of three of the national stars, Tharanga Paranavithana, Dimuth Karunaratne and Sachithra Senanayake who were brought down from Australia for the title decider, but were hardly effective.

 Ragama lost six wickets on the way but an entertaining half ton from Kaushal Weeraratne and a good hand from skipper Sameera de Zoysa saw them through to finish the season in style. In his 41 balls innings Weeraratne had eight boundaries and two sixes as he played an aggressive but a responsible innings to seal the match. Paceman Amila Prasad claimed two early wickets to keep SSC’s chances alive early but  Ragama made sure that nothing would spoil their party as they finished the match with 38 balls to spare. Batting first under home comfort, one would have expected a flurry of runs from the top-order but Ragama who has been in brilliant form with the ball right through the series kept the famed SSC batsmen at bay.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa made a 43 ball 51 and Kaushal Lokuarachchi made 56 but that could only take them to 218 as rest of the batting look ordinary. Madura Lakmal took three while leg spinner Malinga Bandara claimed three for 33 to help them restrict hosts for 218, a target within reach under perfect batting conditions.