Exciting contest at MCA Premier League Semi finals

Friday, 25 November 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dilshan Munaweera, carried his bat out with a brilliant 129 not out, inclusive of 05 sixes and 11 fours to propel MAS Active to an exciting 05 wickets win over HNB in the 19th Singer-MCA Premier League , Knock-out Semi Finals at Thurstan College grounds on Wednesday.

In the meantime, at the BRC grounds, in the other semi-final, MAS Active’s    sister company, MAS Unichela had to fight every inch of the way to post a heart stopping 14-runs win over John Keells.

Thurstan College grounds proved to be a batsman’s paradise as it produced 539 runs in 88.4 overs, yielding 03 centurions in the process.

Apart from Dilshan Munaweera’s onslaught for MAS Active, first came the 02 centuries scored by HNB openers, Hashan Gunatillake   (108 runs in 122 balls, inclusive of 08 fours) and Saman Jayantha (123 runs in 107 balls inclusive of 15 fours & 03 sixes) who put on 220 runs in 33 overs for the first wicket to guide them to a commendable 269 for 8 in 45 overs.

It was Gunatillake’s 2nd ton (earlier he scored 115 Vs. MAS Active in the league stage) and like wise for Saman Jayantha (earlier he scored 105 Vs. JK in the league stage)

It was so close, but yet so far for John Keells, as they threw away the game which was theirs for the taking. After restricting the strong MAS Unichela batting line-up for a gettable 181 for 9 in 46 overs, they were cruising along with the board reading 104 for 1, their openers Dilshan Witharana (52) and Lahiru Thirimanne (45) associated in a century partnership.

When the going was good, came along the spiders, Malinda Warnapura (4/34) and Sohan Boralessa (3/30) to spoil the soup for John Keells, who crashed to 167 runs in the 40th over, falling short by 14 –runs.

Semi Finals Match Results

Top Half Semi final at Thurstan College Grounds:   MAS Active beat HNB by 05 wickets. (Match reduced to 45-overs a –side, due to wet ground conditions)

HNB (won the toss and chose to bat) 269 for 8 in 45 overs. (Hasan Gunatillake 108, Saman Jayantha 123, Sachitra Serasinghe 2/28, T.M. Sampath 4/38)

MAS Active – 270 for 5 in 43.4 overs (Dilshan Munaweera 129 not out, Jeewantha Kulatunga 28, Kithruwan Vithanage 20, Sachitra Serasinghe 39, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 25, C. Peiris 2/44)

Bottom half semi-final at BRC grounds: MAS Unichela beat John Keells by 14 runs (match reduced to 46 overs –a-side, due to wet ground conditions) MAS Unichela (won the toss and chose to bat) – 181 for 9 in 46 overs ( Shalika Karunanayake 75, Nadeera Nawala 21, Milinda Siriwardena 2/28) John Keells - 167 in 39.3 overs (Dilshan Witharana 52, Lahiru Tirimanne 45, Malinda Warnapura 4/34,   Sohan Boralessa 3/30)

It will be a home & home affair when MAS Unichela (last year’s knock-out runners- up) meet MAS Active in the final, this Saturday , 26th November at the SSC grounds, commencing 10.00am.