Potential LB Finance double foiled by poor weather

Tuesday, 26 November 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The weather threw a spanner in LB Finance’s wheel of success, as they were deprived of gaining a worthy double at the 27th Singer MCA Premier League 2020.

The Premier League knockout final between the league winner LB Finance and MAS Unichela was ruined by rain as both teams were declared joint winners at the MCA on 23 November. This is only the second time that a knockout final has ended in a stalemate. In 2006, HNB and Sampath Bank faced a similar situation at the NCC grounds. After an intensive mop-up operation conducted by the hard=working MCA ground staff, play commenced at 11.30 a.m., reduced to 42 overs a side.

MAS Unichela won the toss and chose to bowl.

LB Finance opened with their Captain Lakshan Rodrigo and Sadeera Samarawickrama and went straight to business, putting on 62 runs off 31 balls. Rodrigo showed the bowling scant respect, as he hit 3 massive sixes and 6 sizzling fours, scoring a quick-fire 45 off 19 balls.

No. 3 batsman Kusal Mendis was out cheaply for five runs and thereafter Dananjaya de Silva joined Samarawickrama and the pair gelled well together with a solid stand of 101 runs off 110 balls.

At 2.00 p.m., with the scoreboard reading 225 for 4 in 34 overs, play was halted due to rain.

As the MCA had adequate covers and manpower, the ground was well protected and play recommenced at 3.00 p.m., further reduced to 37 overs a side.

LBF played the remaining three overs and completed their innings with 259 for 7 in 37 overs.

Samarawickrama carried his bat out, three runs short of a well-deserved century off a run-a-ball 97, inclusive of 3 sixes and a half a dozen fours.

De Silva’s solid 59 runs in 65 balls included 2 sixes and 4 fours.

MAS Unichela was given a revised target of 279 runs in 37 overs and was struggling at 109 for 6 in 15 overs when bad light suspended play at 4.45 p.m.

Rain has continuously plagued both teams, as LBF endured four no-results and MAS Unichela suffered five such results in the league and knockout competitions.

As rain followed bad light, the awards presentation was hurriedly shifted to the pavilion.

Singer Sri Lanka Plc Marketing Director Kumar Samarasinghe was the Chief Guest, and he, along with MCA President Rohana Dissanayake, MCA General Secretary Sirosha Gunatillake and MCA Tournament Committee Chairman Tarindra Kaluperuma, gave away the awards.

League Winner – LB Finance.

Special Awards based on performances in the league stage:

Best Bowler – Malinda Pushpakumara from Sampath Bank (5 matches 42.1 overs, 159 runs, 12 wickets)

Best Batsman - Kamindu Mendis from MAS Unichela (5 innings, 190 runs)

Man of the Series – Ramesh Mendis from Dimo (three innings, 134 runs and 4 matches, 30 overs, 169 runs, 6 wickets)

As the Man of the Final was not awarded, the MCA Tournament Commissioner decided to award the trophy to Samarawickrama from LB Finance.

Chief scores:

LBF – 259/7 (37) ( Lakshan Rodrigo 45, Sadeera Samarawickrama 97 not out, Dhananjaya de Silva 59, Angelo Perera 18, Charith Akalanka 25, Lahiru Jayaratne 2/47)

MAS Unichela – 109/6 (15) (T.M. Dilshan 15, Mahela Udawatte 22, Chamara Silva 25 not out, Shiran Fernando 2/44, Kavika Dilshan 2/17)