By Dwayne Ferreira.
SLC Major Club 50 Over finalists SSC and Moors secured their places after high-scoring semi-final victories over CCC and Colts.
COLOMBO – The SLC Major Club 50 Over Tournament 2026 will feature Sinhalese Sports Club and Moors Sports Club in the final after both sides won high-scoring semi-finals in Colombo on Monday.
SSC survived a remarkable challenge from Colombo Cricket Club to win the first semi-final by just one run under the DLS method. Meanwhile, Moors secured a more comfortable 51-run victory over Colts Cricket Club in the other encounter.
The two matches produced more than 1,300 runs. Avishka Fernando, Nipun Dhananjaya, Nishan Madushka, Sithara Gimhana and Angelo Mathews were among the standout performers.
Fernando and Dhananjaya set up massive SSC total
Batting first against CCC at the NCC Grounds, SSC posted an imposing 336 for four from 50 overs.
Avishka Fernando led the charge with a spectacular 160. Nipun Dhananjaya also produced a superb unbeaten century.
Fernando dominated the CCC bowling attack, scoring 160 from 129 deliveries. His innings included 15 fours and five sixes.
Dhananjaya provided vital support and remained unbeaten on 101 from 107 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
Ranuda Somarathne finished unbeaten on 29, while Nuwanidu Fernando contributed 21.
Vishwa Fernando was CCC’s most successful bowler. He claimed three wickets for 57 runs.
CCC then launched an extraordinary response, with opening batter Nishan Madushka leading their chase.
Madushka hammered 148 from 132 deliveries, including nine fours and five sixes. His innings kept CCC firmly in contention deep into the match.
Lasith Croospulle added 67, while Dhananjaya de Silva scored 58. Ashen Bandara also contributed 37 as CCC pushed SSC to the brink.
However, CCC finished on 330 for nine after 49 overs. That left SSC with a dramatic one-run victory under the DLS method.
Prabath Jayasuriya, Nipun Dhananjaya and Mihiranga Nimsara Silva each claimed two wickets for SSC.
The narrow result sent SSC into the SLC Major Club 50 Over final after one of the competition’s closest contests.
Moors power past Colts in second semi-final
At the P. Sara Oval, Moors Sports Club claimed the second place in the final after another run-filled contest.
Moors posted 344 for seven from 50 overs before dismissing Colts Cricket Club for 293.
Opener Sithara Gimhana led their innings with an impressive 92 from 91 balls, striking 13 fours and one six.
The middle order also provided strong support.
Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 64. Sohan De Livera and Janishka Perera both made 59 as Moors maintained their scoring rate throughout the innings.
Nipun Ransika returned figures of two for 39 for Colts. Krishnashriram also claimed two wickets for 61.
Colts needed 345 to win and remained in contention for much of the chase. Experienced Sri Lanka batter Angelo Mathews led their resistance.
Mathews struck a fighting 89 from 89 deliveries, including 10 fours and two sixes.
Muditha Lakshan scored 52, while Sangeeth Cooray added 50. However, Colts could not maintain the momentum required to complete the chase.
They were eventually bowled out for 293 in 47.1 overs, giving Moors a 51-run victory.
Shiran Fernando led the Moors bowling attack with three wickets for 67 runs.
Ramesh Mendis took two for 32. Induwara Udena and Malsha Tharupathi also collected two wickets each.
SLC Major Club 50 Over final set for SSC-Moors clash
The results mean SSC and Moors Sports Club will contest the final of the SLC Major Club 50 Over Tournament 2026 following contrasting semi-final victories.
SSC needed a thrilling one-run DLS win to withstand CCC’s massive response. Moors, meanwhile, completed a more convincing victory over Colts.
Both teams will enter the title decider with their batting units in excellent form after each posted more than 330 runs in the semi-finals.
Brief Scores
SSC 336/4 (50 overs)
Avishka Fernando 160, Nipun Dhananjaya 101*, Ranuda Somarathne 29*
Vishwa Fernando 3/57
CCC 330/9 (49 overs)
Nishan Madushka 148, Lasith Croospulle 67, Dhananjaya de Silva 58
Prabath Jayasuriya 2/57, Nipun Dhananjaya 2/60, Mihiranga Nimsara Silva 2/62
Result: SSC won by 1 run (DLS Method)
Moors SC 344/7 (50 overs)
Sithara Gimhana 92, Sadeera Samarawickrama 64, Sohan De Livera 59, Janishka Perera 59
Nipun Ransika 2/39
Colts CC 293 (47.1 overs)
Angelo Mathews 89, Muditha Lakshan 52, Sangeeth Cooray 50
Shiran Fernando 3/67, Ramesh Mendis 2/32
Result: Moors SC won by 51 runs
