Panadura Cricket Coaching School win MCA Inter-Academy U-15 C’ship

A sterling all-round performance by Avishka Fernando and a good dose of extras helped Panadura Cricket Coaching School win the 12th MCA Inter-Academy Under-15 30-over league tournament 2017, beating Ragama Cricket Academy by 19 runs at the MCA Grounds last Saturday. 

In the Under-13 final which took place in the morning session, SSC School of Cricket beat last year’s runners-up CCC School of Cricket by five wickets. 

In the Under-15 final Fernando went in when Panadura was on the ropes reeling at 41 for 5 in the 13th over. At 50 he lost his partner Aluthge for a duck. The big-made Fernando then decided to hit his way out, recording a gutsy 55-ball 63 runs, including five towering sixes and an equal number of fours. He found a good ally in Chamath Champathi, who held his end with a brave 16 runs off 31 balls, which included 1 six and 1 four. Fernando and Chamuthi put on 66 runs for the seventh wicket in 63 balls before Fernando got out trying to force the pace, to leave the scoreboard reading 116 for 7 in 24.1 overs. 

No. 9 batsman Lakindu Raveesh made a useful 19 runs off 20 balls and with the solid contribution of 30 extras (inclusive of 18 wide deliveries), Panadura made a respectable 150 for 8 in their allotted 30 overs. 

Fernando further held on to good high catches and bowled four economical overs (4-16-0), which earned him the Player of the Match award.

Chasing a victory target of 151 in 30 overs ( RPO 5.03), Ragama made a solid start with their openers Nimesh Soysa (11) and Ranmal Anthony (25) putting on 42 runs in 47 balls. 

But the foolish run outs of Anthony and Rashitha Silva (21) put them in a hole at 67 for 4 in 13.1 overs. 

Thenuka Nandalal (17) and Pasindu Sihina (20) resisted for a while, but Panadura’s sharp fielding on the day contributed to Ragama crashing out for 131 in 25 overs. 

The two opening bowlers Lakindu Raveesh (5-17-2) and Nevin Jayalathge (5-21-2) were the match-winning bowlers.

In the Under-13 final middle-order batsman Sahan Dabare (46 not out in 47 balls inclusive of a six and 5 fours) anchored the batting for CCC, as they finished with a challenging 168 for 8 in 30 overs. Jude Navaratnaraj (6-31-2) and Mohamed Raadhal (5-1-30-2) were the pick of the bowlers for SSC. 

The 51-run third wicket stand off 54 balls between skipper Lian Tirimanne (29) and Shevon Danial (36) and the 50-run, fifth wicket stand off 43 balls between Gavin Karunakalage (54 not out in 43 balls with 3 sixes and 3 fours) and Mohamed Raadiah (11) formed the nucleus of SSC’s innings, helping them finish with 170 for 5 in 27.5 overs. 

The tournaments were conducted by the MCA Cricket Development Committee and the Tournament Committee, powered by Mighty Sports and Speed Sports. 

Results of the two finals:

Under-13 Final: SSC School of Cricket beat CCC School of Cricket by five wickets.

CCC- 168/8 (30) (Yasith Kalupahana 13, Nimantha Gunawardena 15, Hiran Jayasundera 21, Sahan Dabare 46 not out, Dinura Wanigasekera 14, Linal Subasinghe 22, Pavan Wiliams 11,  Jude Navaratnaraj 2/3, MAM Raahidh 2/30)

SSC – 170/5 (27.5) (Leon Patterson 13, Lian Tirimanne 29, Shevon Daniel 36, Gavin Karunakalage 54 not out)

Special awards

Yesith Kalupahana (287 not out in 90 balls, inclusive of 18 sixes and 37 fours) and Nimuthu Gunawardena (226 not out in 95 balls, inclusive of 10 sixes and 33 fours), the two opening batsmen from the CCC School of Cricket, were given merit of awards for carrying their bats out after putting on 538 runs in 30 overs against the Colombo Colts School of Cricket. 

Best Bowler: Poorna Kalhara from Kirindiwela Cricket Academy 

Best Batsman and Player of the Tournament: Yesith Kalupahana from the CCC School of Cricket 

Player of the Final: Gavin Karunakalage from SSC School of Cricket 

Best Captain: Lian Tirimanne from SSC School of Cricket

Most Disciplined Team: HR Cricket Academy. 

Under-15 Final: Panadura Cricket Coaching School beat Ragama Cricket Academy by 19 runs. 

Panadura - 150/3 (30) (A. Heshan 10, Avishka Fernando 63, C. Chamupathi 16, L. Raveesh 19, Shon Shamil 3/19, Rashitha Silva 2/12)

Ragama: 131 (25) (N. Soysa 11, R. Anthony 25, Rasitha Silva 21, T. Nandalal 17, P. Sihina 20, L. Raveesh 2/17, N. Jayalathge 2/21)

Under-15 Special Awards:

Best Bowler/Player of the Tournament and Best Captain: Raveen Achintha de Silva from the NCC Cricket Academy 

Best Batsman – Y. Randunu Rupasinghe from SSC School of Cricket 

Player of the Final: Avishka Fernando from Panadura Cricket Coaching School 

Most Disciplined Team: NCC Cricket Academy 

Awards were given away by Mighty Sports Managing Director Sirosha Gunatillake, Speed Sports Director Askar Ali, former MCA President Chrysantha Obeyesekere and officials from the MCA, namely President Roshan Iddamalgoda, General Secretary Nalin Wickremasinghe, Cricket Development Committee Chairman Mahesh de Alwis and Tournament Committee Chairman Sujeewa de Silva