Mapatuna’s last-ball 6 gives Sebastianites title
View(s):A last-ball 6 in semi-darkness by Carman Mapatuna gave a heart-stopping win over newcomers Vintage CC, in the 5th Lanka Cavaliers Cricket ‘Sixes’ 2017, concluded at De Soysa Park, Moratuwa.
The tournament was jointly sponsored by Pack World (Pvt) Ltd. and Singer Sri Lanka PLC, as part of Lanka Cavaliers 20th Anniversary celebrations.
Quarterfinals:
Vintage CC 78/3 (5 overs) beat MCA 57/1 (5 overs)
Colombo Masters W/O from PCU
Col. Henry Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation 111/1 (5 overs) beat Old Thurstanites 93/1 (5 overs)
Sebastianites 93/1 (5 overs) beat Nuwara Eliya President Team 33/2 (5 overs).
Semi-finals:
Colombo Masters 44/1 (5 overs) lost to Vintage CC 47/1 (3.1 overs)
Sebastianites 83/1 (5 overs) beat Col. Henry Olcott Mem. Sports Foundation 49/5 (5 overs)
Final:
The Sebastianites chasing 56 runs to win, managed only 26 runs in the first 3 overs sent down by Sajeewa de Silva (0/8), Suwanji Madanayake (0/7) and Rohan Soyza (1/11), but got back into the game in the next over, bowled by Nalliah Devarajan (0/17) – 43/1. Then came the deciding last over bowled by Nilan de Silva, with Sujeewa Gunaratne (32 in 11 balls) and Carman Mapatuna at the wickets.
Gunaratne got 2 runs in the first ball and retired 45 not out – 45/1. Surendra Kumara came in next and gave away 2 ‘dot’ balls and got a single in the next ball, giving the strike to Mapatuna – 48/1.
With 8 runs to get in 2 balls, Mapatuna frantically ran a couple in the 5th ball – 50/1.
Nalin de Silva bowled the last ball on middle and leg which Mapatuna swung to the mid-off fence for 6, to give the Sebs a memorable win 56/1.
Results
- Vintage CC 55/5 (5 overs) (Suwanji Madanayake 12, Nilantha Bopage 10, Rohan Soyza 10; Sujith Perera 2/12, Surendra Kumara 1/8, Ajith Cooray 1/6, Sarath Jayawardena 1/12) lost to Sebastianites 56/1 (5 overs) (Sujeewa Gunaratne 32, Sarath Jayawardena 11; Rohan Soyza 1/8)
Special Awards:
- Most Senior Player: K.A.D.J. Wimalajeewa 56 years (Association of Cricket Umpires)
- Best Bowler: Surendra Kumara (Sebastianites)
- Best Batsman: Sajeewa de Silva (Vintage CC)
- Man of the Final: Sujeewa Gunaratne (Sebastianites)
Awards were given awayby Pack World (Pvt) Ltd. Managing Director Harsha Peiris, Singer Sri Lanka PLC Senior Promotions Manager K.D.S. Kanishka and Cavaliers Officials, Ravi Subasinghe, Nalliah Devarajan, Mahesh de Alwis, Wasanthalal Fernando, Daya Sirisena, Bandula de Silva, Basil Perera and Jayantha Seneviratne (Chief Guest)