NP Cricket Academy clinch title in thrilling final

GCC Junior Cricket Championship

NP Cricket Academy became the champions with a thrilling four wickets victory at the finals of the recently concluded GCC Junior Cricket Championship organized by the Global Cricket Club. This Under 13 cricket tournament was conducted with a participation of 31 teams and over 80 matches were played over two months. The tournament started in April.

The final between NP Cricket Academy and CCC Maroons was played at Thurstan College grounds. CCC Maroons batting first scored 120 for seven wickets in their allotted 30 overs. Navindu Kumara was the highest scorer for CCC Maroons scoring 49 runs, followed by Thiyon de Silva with 26 runs. Chenuka Dodangoda captured two wickets for NP CA.

Champions NP Cricket Academy had an easy task of scoring 121 runs in 30 overs to win. But the fighting spirit of the CCC Maroons took the match to the wire. NP CA reached the target in the penultimate over (5th ball of the 29th over). Player of the Match Savein Wijewardhane top scored for NP CA with 52 runs, followed by Supeshala Chandrasiri (21 runs). Sadeep Salgado grabbed three wickets for CCC Maroons.

Manager of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ cricket team and former national player Jayantha Seneviratne graced the occasion as the chief guest

The third-place match between Colombo Premier CF and Oval Cricket Academy was played at the same venue. Colombo Premier CF batting first scored 153 for four wickets in their allotted 30 overs. Methuka Gunaratne excelled in batting scoring a well-deserved century. He scored 107 in 109 balls for Colombo Premier CF. Ukitha Dabare captured two wickets for 34 runs for Oval Cricket Academy.

In their essay, the Oval Cricket Academy were bowled out for 99 runs in 25 overs. Sadev Pathiranage top-scored for Oval Cricket Academy with 30 runs. With an outstanding bowling performance, Janith Rukman captured three wickets for nine runs for Colombo Premier CF.

R.A. Kularatne, former Director of Education for Sports, Western Province was the Chief Guest at the consolation finals

Best Player of the final –

Savein Wijewardhane (NP Cricket Academy)

Best Batsman of the final –

Savein Wijewardhane (NP Cricket Academy)

Best Bowler of the Final –

Sadeep Salgado (CCC Maroons)

Player of the Tournament –

Thisaga Perera (GCC Red)

Best Batsman of the Tournament –

Chethina Kavinda (SSC Cricket Academy)

Best Bowler of the Tournament –

Janith Rukman (Colombo Premier CF)

Best Fielder of the Tournament –

Hammid Afdan (Colombo Premier CF)

Best Wicketkeeper of the Final –

Supeshala Chandrasiri (NP Cricket Academy