Gunatillake logs MCA Premier League’s maiden century

Dhanushka Gunatillake hogged the limelight as he became the first centurion of the ongoing 24th Singer MCA Premier League 2017 when he scored a well-compiled 109 off 103 balls, Inclusive of a six and 13 fours and T.M. Dilshan hit a quick-fire half-century (52 in 59 balls with eight fours) to guide MAS Unichela to a 26-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis method over Sampath Bank last weekend. 

It was MAS Unichela’s third successive win while for Sampath Bank it was a maiden loss coming in the wake of two previous wins. 

In the battle of the newcomers, DIMO strode to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Textured Jersey with nearly 18 overs to spare, but at the cost of Dinesh Chandimal, who dislocated his thumb and was sent to hospital for surgery. 

The match-winners for DIMO were I. Prashan (7-1-37-4) and Hashan Dumindu (87 not out in 98 balls, inclusive of a six and 8 fours).

Defending champions MAS Active nosedived to their third defeat on the trot as they fell to Commercial Credit’s pace twins Lahiru Gamage (8-31-4) and Lahiru  Madushanka (7-1-31-5), ending up all out for 97  runs in 22.5 overs. The match ended a little after 1.00 p.m. when Commercial Credit reached 98 for 2 in 19.1 overs. 

HNB crashed to their third defeat when they had no answer to John Keells’ varied attack of Vikum Bandara (10/30/5), Maduka Liyanapathiranage (2 for 27) and Janaka Gunaratne (2 for 23), which bundled them out for 158 in 47.3 overs.

Lahiru Milantha remained unbeaten after a punishing knock of 84 from 53 balls, inclusive of three sixes and 12 fours as John Keells raced to  their revised  target of  159 runs In  17.1  overs, losing only two wickets in the process. 

Weekend’s match results/four matches

At Katunayake: DIMO beat Textured Jersey by seven wickets.

Textured Jersey – 176 all out off 44.3 overs (Charith Asalanka 75, Ranesh Perera 42, I. Prashan 4/37, T. de Silva 2/17, Matheesha Perera 2/26)

DIMO – 177 for 3  in 32.1 overs  (Hashan Dumindu 87 not out,  Nipun  Karunanayake 29, R. Mendis  28 not out, Suranga Lakmal 2/26)

At Surrey Village: Commercial Credit & Finance ‘A’ beat MAS Active‘A’ by 8 wickets. 

MAS Active ‘A’ – 97 all out in 22.5 overs  (Dilshan Munaweera 20,  Andy Solomons 24,  Lahiru Gamage 4/31,  Lahiru Madushanka  5/31) 

Commercial Credit ‘A’ – 98 for 2 in 19.1 overs (Dilshan Cooray 36, A. Priyanjan 36 not out)

At Surrey Village: John Keells ‘A’ beat HNB ‘A’ by 8 wickets. 

HNB ‘A’ – 158 all out in 47.3 overs  (Yohan Fernando 63, H. Gunatillake 20, Vikum Bandara 5/30, Maduka  Liyanapathiranage 2/27,  Janaka Gunaratne 2/23)

JK ‘A’ (given a revised  target of 159 runs in 48 overs) 162 for 2 in 17.1 overs (Lahiru Milantha 84 not out, Dimuth Karunaratne 40, Roshane Silva 27 not out)

At Katunayake: MAS Unichela beat Sampath Bank by 26 runs on the D&L method. 

Sampath Bank – 253 for 9 in 50 overs (Kaushal Silva 23, Romesh Buddhika 25,  Jeevan Mendis 80,  Hasantha Fernando 37,  Chamika Karunaratne 26, Dilruwan Perera 3/49, Malinga Bandara 3/55)

Unichela – 236 for 7 in 40.5 overs when bad light halted play (Dhanushka Gunatillake 109, T.M. Dilshan 52, Chamara Silva 20, Mahela Udawatte 22, Kasun Rajitha 2/38, Jeevan Mendis 2/40)

The tournament will continue on Wednesday, 21 September and on 24 and 25 September with a card of eight matches, the pick of which will be the game between MAS Unichela and Commercial Credit on Saturday, 24 September at the Colts Grounds.