John Keells and MAS Active in Premier League final
John Keells and MAS Active entered the Finals of the 22nd Singer –MCA Premier League Knock out Tournament 2015. In the first semi-final John Keells beat the fancied defending Champions, MAS Intimates Unichela by 26 runs and in the second semi-final MAS Active scored a close two wickets win over Commercial Credit played mid week at the MCA Grounds.
The 1st semi-final commenced at 1.15 pm due to soggy ground conditions and was curtailed to a 30-Overs- a-side.
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| John Keells’ Upul Indrajith (L) bowled economically as
MAS Intimates Unichela batsman Ramith Rambukwella (R) tries to launch on over the rope |
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John Keells sent into bat was reeling at 39 for 5, and was rescued by Roshane Silva (94 not out in 90 balls, inclusive of six sixes and five fours) and Janaka Gunaratne (86 not out in 47 balls inclusive of seven sixes and seven fours) with an unbroken 164 runs partnership for the sixth wicket, propelling them to finish with a formidable 203 for 5 in 30 overs.
JK opening bowler Maduka Liyanapathiranage (4 for 55) made early inroads into the strong Unichela batting machine, including the wickets of T.M. Dilshan and Kusal Janith Perera to put them on the ropes.
Despite a fighting half century by skipper, Chamara Silva (52), Unichela, the current League winner, surrendered their K-O crown, being all out for 177 in 29.1 overs.
Commercial Credit batting first managed to score 225 in 49.1 overs with Suraj Randev being the top scorer with a fighting half century. Sachitra Senanayake bowled his heart out to capture 4/23.
Chasing 225 for victory MAS Active reached the target with two wickets in hand and 5.4 overs to spare. Dhananjaya de Silva carried his bat to the end scoring a well compiled unbeaten 50 which helped his side to enter the finals.
MAS Active will meet John Keells in the finals on Sunday November 9 at the MCA Grounds.
| 1st semi-final
John Keells 203 for 5 (30) (Roshane Silva 94 not out, Janaka Gunaratne 86 not out, Farveez Maharoof 2/40, Dilruwan Perera 2/23) 2nd semi-final Commercial Credit 225 all out (49.1) (Suraj Randiv 56, Malinda Pushpakumara 38, Lasith Abeyratne 35, Sachitra Senanayake 4/23, Dilshan Munaweera 2/36, Binura Fernando 2/45) MAS Intimates Unichela ‘B’ record fifth win in MCA ‘B’ League Unbeaten defending joint winner, MAS Intimates Unichela ‘B’ recorded their fifth successive win when they beat John Keells ‘B’ by seven wickets in the ongoing Emerald Ceylon Tea Cup / MCA ‘B’ division 50-Over League Tournament, continued midweek. Chasing victory target of 193 runs in 47 overs, Unichela ‘B’ reached it in comfort in 35.2 overs, losing only three wickets with Nadeera Nawala (68) and Sanka Ramesh (57 not out) sharing 112 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket. Kanrich Finance ‘A’ posted their fourth win, beating Commercial Credit ‘B’ by 96-runs to remain unbeaten; earlier on Kanrich were most unfortunate to face two No-results against MAS Silueta and DIMO, due to bad weather. Earlier during the week-end rain played havoc as five out of the eight matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled in the ongoing Emerald Ceylon Tea Cup MCA ‘B’ division 50 Over League Tournament 2015. The only salvage point to the rain ruined week-end was the sparkling century scored by Samith Fernando (107 not out in 76 balls, inclusive of eight sixes and eight fours) for John Keells “B” which earned them a five wicket win over Commercial Bank “A”. J. Keells, chasing a victory target of 161 runs in 38 overs were reeling at 30 for 5, as Fernando took control to take the game away from the Bankers with an unbroken 134 runs stand for the sixth wicket with Sasindu Perera (37). Raigam Marketing went home to lunch (Match over by 12.15 pm) annihilating the wooden-spoonists, Union Bank by eight wickets. Union Bank shot out for 64 runs in 29.5 overs. In the match between DIMO and Commercial Credit and Finance PLC ‘B’ curtailed to a 20+20 match, due to wet ground conditions, the former rode to a 46 –runs win. In the process, Commercial Credit and Finance PLC ‘B’ were found guilty for violating the Code of Conduct and the Match Referee, Pemlal Fernando banned their Captain, Anura Prasad Dias for one match, with a suspended sentence for one year; Shammika Ruwan for two matches with an equal suspension and their Coach, Lasantha Prasad for two matches, also with an equal suspension. Weekend’s and midweek results At Katunayake: Raigam Marketing beat Union Bank by 8 wickets Union Bank 64 all out (29.5) (G. Wishvajith 3/11, T. Madanayake 4/15) Raigam Marketing 67/2 (5.3) (S. Hettiarachchi 46 not out) At Surrey Village: John Keells ‘B’ beat Commercial Bank ‘A’ by 5 wickets (Match curtailed to 38 overs a side, due to wet ground conditions) J. Keells ‘B’ 164/5 (32) (Samith Fernando 107 not out, S. Perera 37 not out, A. Rajapaksa 4/28) At Thurstan: DIMO beat Commercial Credit ‘B’ by 46 runs (Match curtailed to 20 overs a side , due to wet ground conditions) DIMO 168/7 (20) (Ruwinda Shaman 32, Dinesh Chandimal 25, Nipuna Karunaratne 38, P. Tharanga 25, P. Madushan 32 not out, D. Chandimal 2/23, K. Silva 2/25) Commercial Credit ‘B’ 122/9 (20) (T. Weerakoon 20, M. Sarathchandra 27, P. Dias 26, P. Madushan 2/20, P. Tharanga 4/18) Commercial Bank ‘A’ 152 all out (41.3) (G. Dissanayake 20, A. Ranasinghe 32, A. Rajapaksa 25, M. Silva 22, L. Jayasinghe 3/25, T. Gamage 3/28) Mobitel 101/8 (26 Overs when bad light halted play) (K. Jayawickrama 36, M. Silva 2/35, A. Ranasinghe 4/25) At Surrey Village: Kanrich Finance ‘A’ beat Commercial Credit ‘B’ by 96 runs Kanrich Finance ‘A’ 205/9 (50) (H. Ranasinghe 62, A. Asanka 53 not out, Hans Fernando 25, S. Salinda 4/30, I. Udayanga 3/40) Com. Credit ‘B’ 109 all out (30.2) (I. Udayanga 57, D. de Silva 2/10, P. Jayasuriya 2/24, R. Laksiri 3/25, M. Wijayalath 2/35) At Katunayake: Hayleys Group beat PABC Bank by 4 wickets PABC 183 all out (49.5) ( C. Sasanka 35, V. Deepal 25, B. Janith 40, K. Kulasekera 2/40, I. Raffi 4/25) Hayleys 184/6 (46) (Minhaj Jaleel 73, I. Raffi 45, D. Ratnayake 26 not out, B. Janith 2/35, C. Sasanka 2/40) At Thurstan: MAS Intimates Unichela ‘B’beat John Keells ‘B’ by seven wickets (Match curtailed to 47 overs a side, due to wet ground conditions) JK ‘B’ 192/9 (47) (S. Fernando 35, A. Peiris 67 not out, P. Koralagedera 2/34, Lassana Perera 3/40) Unichela ‘B’ 194/3 (35.2) (S. Fernando 57, Nadeera Nawala 68, Sanka Ramesh 57 not out) |