It was 22-year-old No.4 bat Hashan Gunatilleke who steered Nondescripts CC to a commanding position against their neighbouring rivals, the title defenders SSC, in the 3-day final of the SLC Under-23 Tournament which began on Friday (26) at Maitland Place, Colombo.

Gunatilleke’s painstaking unbeaten 103 which came in 197 deliveries was the purple patch of the steady NCC first innings, which they began after losing the toss.

There were three other vital knocks, that came from opener Demintha Dahanayake (82 in 102 balls), Eranga Gangoda (53 in 70) and Sandun Dias (46), as SSC, who came to their third straight final, used eight bowlers hoping desperately to make inroads to the NCC middle-order. None of them were successful, though, despite slow left-armer Milan Fernando took four for 116 in an arduous 37 orvers.