Singer-MCA Premier League played out amid wet conditions

The weather, which stood firm in the morning, ran out of patience in the afternoon and prevented two of the three matches from going the full distance, with them decided through the Duckworth Lewis method. 

The game between MAS Unichela and DIMO at Katunayake was an absolute thriller, with DIMO falling short of victory by 9 runs. 

MAS Unichela won the toss and put put up a challenging 259 in 48.4 overs as Kamidu Mendis anchored the batting with a well compiled 78 not out off 72 balls inclusive of 10 fours, while Skipper Kusal Janith Perera (43) and Chamara Silva (43) made useful contributions to bolster the total.

The DIMO chase was spearheaded by Ramesh Mendis (66 off 70 balls inclusive of 5 sixes and 2 fours) and Nipun Karunanayake (54 in 79 balls with 5 fours), who were associated in a 77-run stand off 88 balls for the fifth wicket. 

Mendis was once again a real thorn in the flesh, as he stalled the DIMO run machine with a miserly spell of 10-39-01. Lahiru Madusanka (10-01-59-03) and Dilruwan Perera (10-44-02) were the other bowlers, who contributed significantly to Unichela’s close win.

The match, which was billed as a clash between defending league winners LB Finance and young guns SLC Under 19 team was marred by poor weather.

LBF, who won the toss and batted first, came down like a tonne of bricks on the youngsters, making 285 for 8 in 50 overs with Dhananja de Silva (79 in 83 balls, inclusive of 3 sixes and 8 fours) and Shehan Jayasuriya (65 in 50 balls, inclusive of 5 sixes and 2 fours) in full flourish. 

The SLC Under 19 team, needing 286 runs to win (RPO 5.72) offered a spirited chase with skipper Nipun Dhananjaya spearheading the run chase with a sparkling 75 runs off 44 balls, hitting 5 towering sixes and 4 fours. They were 180 for 3 in 28.3 overs when the match was brought to a premature end, well short of the Duckwork Lewis par score of 253 runs.

Match results 

At Katunayake: MAS Unichela beat DIMO by 9 runs

MAS Unichela - 259 (48.4) (Kamindu Mendis 78*, Kusal Perera 43, Chamara Silva 43, Priyamal Perera 23, Mahela Udawaththa 22, Nisala Tharaka 3/52, Ramesh Mendis 2/31, Thikshila De Silva 2/52)

Dimo - 250/8 (50) (Ramesh Mendis 66, Nipun Karunanayake 54, Dinesh Chandimal 36, Sammu Ashan 23, Nisala Tharaka 23, Lahiru Madusanka 3/59, Dilruwan Perera 2/4)

At P. Sara Oval: John Keells beat Sampath Bank by 87 runs on the Duckworth Lewis method

John Keells -195 (48.2) (Ishan Jayarathne 40, Minod Banuka 37, Jehan Daniel 35, Dimuth Karunarathne 21, Jeewan Mendis 4/43, Dasun Shanaka 3/28, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/33)

Sampath Bank - 99/9 (32) the D&L par score was 186 runs.

(Mohomed Shiraj 2/18, Ishan Jayarathne 2/19, Nuwan Pradeep 2/21)

At MCA: LB Finance beat the Sri Lanka Cricket U-19 team by 73 runs on the D&L method

LB Finance - 285/8 (50) (Dhananjaya De Silva 79, Shehan Jayasuriya 65, Sadeera Samarawickrama 47, Lahiru Udara 31, Anjelo Perera 30, Yasiru Rodrigo 2/50, Rohan Sanjaya 2/51, Dilshan Madushanka 2/53 )

Sri Lanka Under-19s - 180/3 (28.3) D&L par score was 253 runs 

(Nipun Dhananjaya 75, Avishka Perera 21, Isuru Udana 2/17, Kavishka Dilshan 2/30, Shehan Jayasuriya 2/36, Dhananjaya De Silva 2/42)

The tournament will continue tomorrow and 19 October with a card of nine matches.