Mineth steers NCC to U15 MCA Academy Title

Thursday, 10 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

NCC Cricket Academy Under-15 Cricketers

Mineth Premarathne’s unbeaten knock of 62, backed by a collective bowling effort, helped NCC Cricket Academy clinch this year’s Under-15 MCA Academy title, after they recorded a convincing 6-wicket win over HR Cricket Academy in the finals played at MCA ground.

Hansaja Bandara, the HR CA opener, holding his nerve in a hopeless situation of losing four of his partners cheaply, batted with determination until he found two partners in Manura Pieris (20) and Mohomed Nabeel (28) to rebuild the innings.

Mineth Premarathne Player-of-the-Final

By the time Bandara got out after a brisk 69, scored off just 66 balls hitting three fours and four sixes as the seventh batsmen to get out in their innings, HR had recovered from 4 for 48 to somewhat respectable 7 for 139 in the 23rd over.

After Bandara’s dismissal, the remaining batsmen of the HR line-up failed to consolidate before their innings faltered for a paltry 152 with 10 balls to spare. Two new-ball bowlers, Nimdinu Edirimanna and Desitha Jayakody bowled economically to capture four wickets between them in an attack where almost all the bowlers did their part breaking partnerships at crucial stages.

NCC, needing just 153 to win the game, failed to get off to a sound start they needed as they managed only 45 in the first 10 overs. However, wicketkeeper Mineth Premarathne after opening the innings played a glorious anchor role to take his side home with six wickets and eight balls remaining, with a solid unbeaten knock of 62 scored off 93 balls. His knock included four boundaries and a six. He was given an excellent support by skipper Viranga Yeshan, who made a cameo knock of 33 from 24 balls with six boundaries.

HR Cricket Academy, Narahenpita 152 all out in 28.2 overs (Hansaja Bandara 69, Mohamed Nabeel 28, Manura Pieris 20, Nimdinu Edirimanna 2 for 10, Shivanka Jayasinghe 2 for 30, Viranga Yeshan 2 for 38, Desitha Jayakody 2 for 15)

NCC Cricket Academy 155 for 4 wickets in 28.4 overs (Mineth Premarathne 62 not out, Viranga Yeshan 33, Hansaja Bandara 1 for 14)