Hemas helpless as Chathuranga steers CDB to highest score

Citizens Development Business’ (CDB) opening batsman Chathuranga Dikumbura hit a belligerent 126 in 75 balls which paved the way for his team to post 385/6 in 40 overs, the highest team total of the tournament, against the helpless Hemas Group, who ultimately lost by a massive margin of 267 runs at the ongoing 14th Elephant House Lemonade Trophy MCA ‘D’ Division 40-over League Tournament 2017, whose pre-quarterfinals were held last weekend. 

The other seven teams that advanced to the quarterfinals were the AMW Group, Softlogic Holdings, Hemas Flexi Packaging, Kanrich Finance ‘B’, NDB Bank, David Pieris Motor Co. and Expolanka Group. 

Dikkumbura was severe with the Hemas bowlers, hitting 10 massive sixes and 8 sizzling boundaries. He was also engaged in two century partnerships – an opening stand of 131 runs in 103 balls with Saman Ambilimeegama (49) and a 120-run stand for the second wicket from 63 balls with Vishwa Ratnasekera (59) 

Hemas threw in the towel, having no answer to CDB ‘s varied bowling attack composed of Buddika Silva (5-1-6-3), Chandima Bandara (7.4–1-24- 2) and Chathuranga Abeysinghe (5-1-32-2) and were bundled out for 118 runs in 28.4 overs. 

Kanrich Finance ‘B’ went home to lunch after they annihilated the 10-man Hilton Colombo Residences by nine wickets. The match was over at a little after 12.00 noon, lasting only 35.2 overs. Batting first, the hoteliers made a paltry 69 runs in 25 overs. CDB replied with 70 for 1 in 10.2 overs. 

A notable double by Heshan Kumaditha (41 in 49 balls inclusive of 6 fours and 7.2-1-19-4) propelled the AMW Group to a fine 98-run win over Bodyline. 

An unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 75 runs between Ranjan Ranatunga (35 not out in 52 balls) and Asanka Ranasinghe (37 not out in 50 balls), helped Softlogic Holdings to score a fine six-wicket win over the Delmage Group. Softlogic was earlier helped by their opening bowlers Vinoth Kumar (8-36-3) and Jesley Richards (8-1-37-3) who restricted Delmage to 175 runs in 39.3 overs. 

Weekend’s match results: all pre quarterfinals

At MCA: AMW Group beat Bodyline by 98 runs

AMW: 198 (38.2) (H. Kumuditha 41, D. Weeraratne 41, A. Wewelwela 31, S. Premakumara 2/38, I. Chandrasiri 4/23)

Bodyline – 100 (25.2) (D. Tharinda 3/11, H. Kumuditha 4/19)

At Campbell Park: Softlogic Holdings beat Delmage Group by 6 wickets

Delmage – 171 (39.3) (P. Balagama 35, Vinoth Kumar 3/35, J. Richards 3/37, C. Praneeth 2/44, A. Ranasinghe 2/15)

Softlogic – 172/4 (32.4) (C. Niroshan 41, P. Wickramarachchi 36, Ranjan Ranatunga 35 not out, A. Ranasinghe 37 not out, P. Balagama 2/43) 

At Panadura – Heshan Flexi Packaging beat Central Finance by 58 runs

Heshan Flexi – 171 (38.1) (Chalitha Chamod 37, A. Karunaratne 3/28, Nimesh Fernando 3/23, V. Costa 2/15) 

Central Finance – 113 (26.3) (K. Silva 30, B. Prasad 2/14, Lalith Prasanna 4/22, S. Jayasekera 2/25) 

At MCA: Kanrich Finance ‘B’ beat Hilton Colombo Residencies by 9 wickets

HCR – 69 (25.0) (S. Senaratne 2/10, A. Dhananjaya 2/21, T. Iddamalgoda 2/13, S. Thiwanka 3/3)

Kanrich Finance ‘B’ - 70/1 (10.2) (S. Thiwanka 30 not out)

At Thurstan – Citizens Development Business beat Hemas Group by 267 runs

CDB - 385/6 (40.0) (Chathuranga Dikkumbura 126, Saman Ambilimeegama 49, V. Ratnayake 59, A. Akuragoda 61, S. Perera 40 not out, G. Cruze 2/64) 

Hemas – 118 (28.4) (A. Priyadarshana 35, B. Silva 3/6, C. Bandara 2/24, C. Abeysinghe 2/32, P. Dilanka 2/4)

At Kotahena – NDB Bank beat NTB ‘B’ by 76 runs

NDB – 193/9 (40.0) (S. Fernando 42, N. Abeysinghe 30, M. Iranga 3/28, N. Saputhanthri 3/33)

NTB ‘B’ – 117 (28.5) (K. Fernando 2/24, A. Segar 2/25, D. Sandaruwan 3/25)

At Mattegoda – David Pieris Motor Co. beat Ceylinco Insurance by 4 wickets

Ceylinco – 116 (35.3) (L. de Silva 2/25, D. Peiris 3/23, N. Channa 2/20)

DPMC - 117/6 (18.1) (M. Fernando 46, N. Fernando 2/42, A. Fernando 2/4)

At Campbell Park: Expolanka Group beat Brumby’s International by 92 runs

Expolanka – 185 (36.2) (R. Gamage 63, M. Chathuranga 36, S. Wijethunga 2/23, S. Illiyas 2/25, K. Mihiranga 2/35, D. Sinnen 2/11)

Brumby’s – 93 (21.5) (I. Mohamed 47 not out, N. Dilip 3/24, A. Vithanarachchi 4/24, C. Jayasinghe 2/13) 

The quarterfinals will be worked off as follows in the New Year, as the tournament will take a well earned holiday this weekend for Christmas: 

Saturday, 7 January: AMW Group vs. Softlogic Holdings at Thurstan College 

Sunday, 8 January: Heshan Flexi Packaging vs. Kanrich Finance ‘B’ at MCA; Citizens Development Business vs. NDB Bank at Campbell Park; and David Pieris Motor Co. vs. Expolanka Group at Thurstan College