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By Dinesh Weerawansa

Colombo Colts CC and Singhalese SC registered outright wins in their respective semi-finals concluded in Colombo yesterday to qualify for next weekend's grand finale of the BCCSL Inter-Club Premier Division Super League cricket tournament.

Colts edged out defending champs NCC by two wickets at Saravanamuttu Stadium while SSC had the better of Tamil Union in a three-wicket thriller at NCC Grounds in the four-day semi-finals concluded yesterday.

What was most significant was that the sides batting first in the respective semi-finals put up reasonably healthy totals in their first innings - 324 by NCC and 386 by Tamil Union, but still ended up on the losing sides. However, both matches produced some entertaining cricket and were keenly contested affairs.

The Colts-NCC game was the more interesting of the two as it swung both ways at crucial stages before the Havelock Park club tasted a sweet win at the end. Even then, Colts had to survive many anxious moments, before winnings. Chasing 217 runs to win in four sessions Colts, who resumed at their overnight total of 131 for 2 never looked comfortable against the penetrative NCC bowling attack of Ravindra Pushpakumara (3 for 28), Ishara Amarasinghe (3 for 38) and Ruwan Kalpage (2 for 49).

They lost Sajith Fernando and Jeevantha Kulatunga quickly to be 134 for 4 and soon afterwards slumped to 162 for 7, still needing 55 runs to win with only three wickets in hand.

But a superb knock of 84 by Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana and an unbeaten 31 by his Sri Lanka team mate Chaminda Vaas made sure Colts won and with it a place in the final. Kaluwitharana celebrated his recall to the Sri Lanka team for next month tour of Sharjah with 84 off 113 balls with 14 boundaries.

Tami Union began the final day today at 145 for 5, still needing 31 runs to avoid innings defeat. They were finally all out for 283 with Indika de Saram stroking a fluent century (108).

SSC requiring 109 for an outright win were given a few anxious moments when Tamil Union reduced their strong batting to 73 for 7 at one stage, but a dropped catch when Samaraweera was on ten cost Tamil Union the match. Samaraweera made an unbeaten 46 to steer SSC through.

The four-day final will be played at the SSC grounds from March 29 to April 1.

First Semi-final at Sara Stadium: Colts beat NCC by two wickets. NCC: 324 and 190.

COLTS CC: 298 and 217 for 8 (R. Kaluwitharana 84, Sajith Fernando 39, S. Kalavitigoda 23, M.Pushpakumara 19, C. Vaas 31 n.o, R. Pushpakumara 3 for 28, I. Amarasinghe 3 for 38, R. Kalpage 2 for 49).

Second Semi-final at NCC Grounds: SSC beat Tamil Union by three wickets. TAMIL UNION: 386 and 283 (N. Shiroman 22, I. de Saram 108, M. Gajanayake 29, R. Dias 36, T. Samaraweera 5 for 86, Ruchira Perera 3 for 62).

SSC: 561 and 109 for 7 (T.Samaraweera 46 n.o, M. Jayawardena 19, P. Wickremasinghe 3 for 25, N. Bandaratillake 2 for 26, M. Gajanayake 2 for 28).

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