by Mike Andree
A magnificent unbroken double century partnership, between skipper Mahela Jayewardane and Marvan Atapattu, gave Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) the Premier Division Limited overs championship title, with an eight wicket victory over Colts, in the final played at the R. Premadasa International Stadium on Wednesday.

SSC chasing a target of 215 to win started in disastrous fashion losing both openers Avishka Gunawardane and Prasanna Jayawardane in the very first over of their innings. Both fell trapped leg before wicket to Colts skipper and Sri Lanka opening bowler Chaminda Vaas.

It was at this stage, with SSC two wickets down for one run, that Atapattu was joined by skipper Mahela Jayewardane. They clobbered the bowling to all parts of the field as they raced along in grand style to take SSC to victory, with 14.3 overs to spare, without being separated.

Atapattu made a dashing and unbeaten 116 in only 105 balls while Jayewardane mixed aggression with caution to stay unbeaten on 83 off 111 balls.

Earlier, Colts started with a bang as Sri Lanka wicketkeeper batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana bashed the SSC bowlers for a quickfire 49 in a first wicket partnership of 59 with Chaminda Mendis. A collapse then set in as Colts lost four wickets for just nine runs to be 68 for four.

More wickets fell at regular intervals, against some intelligent bowling and tight fielding, till the tail began to wag strongly with Dulip Samaraweera leading the fightback, scoring an unbeaten 81.

He and Kaushalya Weeraratne put on 60 runs for the ninth wicket without being parted. The latter remained unbeaten on 31.