Defending champions Sampath Bank met their waterloo and had their unbeaten record tarnished by John Keells who defeated them by five wickets in the MCA Singer Premier Cricket tournament match played at the NCC ground yesterday. Sampath Bank taking first lease of the wicket made a modest 180 with John Keells reaching the target in the 38th over.

Sampath Bank 180 in 36.3 overs (Samin Kanadanaarchchi 73, Shantha Kalavitigoda 41, Chamara de Soysa 22 n.o.: Kanishka Elvitigala 3 for 31, Akshu Fernando 3 for 32, Nilanka Premaratne 2 for 42)
John Keells 181 for 5 in 37.3 overs (Lahiru Thirimanne 52, Rumesh Buddika 35, Samith Dushantha 22, Akshu Fernando 24 n.o., Janudika Sriyapala 22 n.o.: Jeewan Mendis 3 for 49)

Massive win for HNB
HNB recorded a massive 100 runs win over Unichela inflicting the first defeat of their opponents in another match of the same tournament played at the Colts ground yesterday. HNB helped by knock of 160 from Saman Jayantha which included 18 boundaries and three sixes posted a mammoth score of 334 for 8 and then restricted Unichela to a score of 234.

HNB 334 for 8 in 50 overs (Saman Jayantha 160, Hemantha Boteju 68, Shanuka Dissanayake 39 n.o.: Sohan Boralessa 3 for 52)

Unichela 234 in 40.2 overs (Malinda Warnapura 92, Gayan Wijekoon 57, Malin Silva 20: Ranil Dhammika 2 for 20, Yohan Fernando 2 for 30, Chinthaka Jayasinghe 2 for 47, Duncan Arnolda 2 for 49)

Jeewantha slams 206
A hurricane knock of 206 in just 145 balls with 26 boundaries and sis sixes by Jeewantha Kulatunga helped MAS Active register their first win of the MCA cricket tournament.

Jeewantha’s knock helped MAS Active amass a score of 374 for 8 while Seylan Bank in their turn were 177 for 5 when bad light stopped play in the match played at the P. Sara Stadium giving MAS Active a 76 runs win on the DL method.

MAS Active 374 for 8 in 50 overs ( Jeewantha Kulatunga 206, Indika de Saram 45, Sachitra Senanayake 30, Sameera de Soysa 31 n.o.: Chamil Sumathipala 3 for 44)

Seylan Bank 177 for 5 in 33 overs (Kaushalya Weeraratne 56, Harsha Vithana 39, Chanaka Withanage 38, Sahan Wijeratne 17, Ian Daniel 17 n.o.: Geeth Alwis 2 for 14, Angelo Perera 2 for 43)