Skipper Chamara Silva guides MAS Unichela to Singer-MCA Premier League knockout title

A captain’s knock from Chamara Silva propelled league winners MAS Unichela to a convincing 23-run win on the D&L method over Commercial Credit and Finance Plc at the 24th Singer-MCA Premier League 2017 knockout tournament  final, which concluded on  Sunday, 23 October at the MCA Grounds.

The match got off to a delayed start at 1.00 p.m. due to the rain and was reduced to a 32-over game.

Sent into bat on a lively wicket, MAS Unichela was shackled by medium pacer Kavinda Silva, who made early inroads, getting  rid of in-form batsman Rashmika Opatha (1) and Mahela Udawatte (6) (17 for  2). T.M. Dilshan (5) fell cheaply trying to go after the bowling (46 for 3).

Ramith Rambukwella, promoted as an opener, held up one end with a brisk 31 runs in 25 balls with 2 sixes and 3 fours until he was bowled by Suraj Ranjive (47 for 4). Farveez Maharoof (8) fell by the wayside as Unichela hit the ropes at 59 for 5.

The rescue act was performed by skipper Chamara Silva (99 in 70 balls, inclusive of 6 sixes and 6 fours) and Chathura Peiris (35 in 36 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours), as they put on 85 runs for the sixth wicket (143 for 6). Silva further consolidated the innings with a 67-run stand for the seventh wicket with Thilaksha Sumanasiri (27)(210 for 7) and finally  35 runs for the eighth wicket with Lahiru Jayarathne (17) to finish with a challenging total of  246 for 8 in 32 overs (RPO 7.69).

Skipper Upul Tharanga spearheaded the Commercial Credit run chase after the early dismissal of his opening partner Dilhan Cooray (9). Tharanga (45 in 42 balls, including of 2 sixes and 5 fours), with Ashan Priyanjana (22), set the pace as they put on 40 runs for the second wicket in 41 balls. Tharanga unfortunately got run out off a direct hit from Sumanasiri with the score on 67 for 2. 

At the fall of the third wicket at 93, that of Priyanjana, Chamara Kapugedara strode in and entertained the crowd with a ferocious 50 off 27 balls inclusive of 3 sixes and 4 fours. 

2015 MCA Premier League Emerging Player Chathuranga De Silva (13), who won the MCA scholarship to Australia, departed playing an irresponsible shot with the score reading 131 for 4 in 19.1 overs.

Kapugedara went hammer and tongs in the 20th over, hitting Lahiru Jayarathne for 18 runs as the match got stopped at 149 for 4, with light fading, with Commercial Credit slightly behind the D&L par score of 151.

Wanidu Hasaranga (7) in desperation played a bad shot and got out, putting a lot of pressure on Kapugedara, as the D&L shot up to 165 against the current score of 157 for 5 in 21 overs.

The 22nd over was bowled by Ishara Amarasinghe (3-17-2) who sealed the issue, bagging the prized scalp of Kapugedara (158 for 6).

As Farveez Maharoof sent down two deliveries in the 23rd over, umpires Ravindra Wimalasiri and Chaminda Hathurusinghe suspended play due to bad light at 5.33 p.m. with 9.4 overs remaining.

With the light situation still not improving, the umpires, with the consent of the captains, decided to call off play. Commercial Credit was way behind on the D&L par score of 182.

Match referee Basil Perera adjudged Unichela Captain Chamara Silva the Man of the Match. 

The other three special awards, based on performances in the league stage, went to Dhanushka Gunathilake from MAS Unichela (Best Batsman and Man of the Series) and emerging young fast bowler from John Keells, Vikum Bandara (Best Bowler). 

The awards for the league and knockout competitions were presented by Chief Guest Janaka Mendis, Singer Sri Lanka Plc Credit Director; Guest of Honour K.D.S. Kanishka, Singer Sri Lanka Plc Senior Manager Promotions, MCA President Niran Mahawatte, MCA General Secretary Nalin Wickremasinghe and Tournament Committee Chairman Sujeewa de Silva.

Chief scores

MAS Unichela – 246/8 (32.0) (Ramith Rambukwella 31, Chamara Silva 99, Chathura Peiris 35, Thilaksha Sumanasiri 27, Lahiru Jayarathne 17, Kavinda Silva 2/32)

Commercial Credit – 159 for 6 in 22.2 over when bad light halted play. (Upul Tharanga 45, Ashan Priyanjana 22, Chamara Kapugedara 50 and Ishara Amarasinghe 2/17)

Singer MCA Premier League T20 quarters worked off 

The quarterfinals of the Singer MCA Premier League’s T20 tournament got underway yesterday.

MAS Unichela, who have already claimed the league and knockout titles, are the top seeds with Commercial Credit & Finance, who finished knockout runners-up, the bottom seeds.

The other six teams are John Keells Group, Sampath Bank, HNB and the two newcomers to the MCA big league, Textured Jersey and DIMO.

The competition’s semifinals are scheduled for Friday, 28 October at the MCA while the finals will be played on Sunday, 30 October at the same venue.