Heshan Flexe Packaging ‘A’ wins Last Man Stands Spring Season T20 Cricket Championships

Heshan Flexe Packaging ‘A’, which has mastered a new way of playing cricket, recorded a comprehensive 130 -run win over Sapper CC, Mattegoda in the Last Man Stands Spring Season T20 Cricket Championships 2017 final played at the Thurstan College grounds on Sunday. 

As a result of the morning’s heavy downpour, the semifinals scheduled for 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. were rescheduled for 12.30 p.m., reduced to 10 overs-a-side games. 

Both semis were absolute thrillers. Heshan Flexe ‘A’ pulled off a three-run win over Stafford Motors and Sapper CC edged the Colombo Bens by two wickets with three balls to spare. 

In the first semifinal Stafford Motors chasing 87 runs in 10 overs to win, needed six runs in the last over. Star all-rounder Chalitha Chamod kept his nerve and bowled a fantastic last over, giving away only three runs, thus giving Heshan Flexe a heart-stopping three-run win. Earlier on Chamod anchored the Heshan Flexe innings with a belligerent 46 runs in 22 balls, hitting 4 sixes and a boundary.

In the second semifinal, Sapper SC, chasing a moderate 70 runs to win off 10 overs against Colombo Bens had to earn their runs the hard way. In the last over, SCC needed 8 runs off 5 balls. Ashan Abeykoon (16 not out) finished the game with a two and a six in the first two deliveries as he sealed victory for them by two wickets with three balls to spare.

In the final Heshan Flexe ‘A’, having made their great escape in their semifinals, got into top gear in the final. Chalitha Chamod (26) and Asela Jayasinghe (22) gave the team an excellent start and Nimesh Perera (59 in 34 balls, 1 six and 5 fours) and Buddhika Prasad (36) continued the onslaught to finish the 20 overs on a high of 187 for 7.

Sapper CC, now severely demoralised, threw in the towel, being shot out for 57 runs in 11 overs. 

Heshan Flexe ‘A’ took home the glittering LMS Trophy plus a cash award of Rs. 300,000 while Sapper CC was presented with a cash prize of Rs. 150,000. LMS has now staged three tournaments in Sri Lanka since October 2016 and has called for entries for their summer tournament to be held in August 2017. Entries close on 7 July and can be handed to the SL League Manager Yasura Warnakulasuriya (contact No. 0770514549).

First semifinal: Heshan Flexe Packaging ‘A’ beat Stafford Motor Co. by 3 runs

    Heshan Flexe ‘A’ – 86/3 (10) (Chalitha Chamod 46, Asela Jayasinghe 29 not out, Amila Mendis 1/22, Dhammika Kumara 1/9)

    Stafford Motors - 83/3 (10) (Jayanga Peiris 29, Radeesh Kalpa Peiris 48, Risith Upamal 3/13)

Second semifinal: Sapper CC beat Colombo Bens by 2 wickets.

    Colombo Bens - 69/5 (10) (Adeesha Nanayakkara 17, Vinodh Perera 20, Samankumara 1/14, Ruwan Ranatunga 1/8, Nuwan Gunawardena 1/14) 

    Sapper CC – 70/6 (9.2) (Ashen Abeykoon 16 not out, Kasun Mahela 12, Nimesh Fernando 2/30, Yasas Alwis 2/10) 

Final: Heshan Flexe Packaging ‘A’ beat Sapper SC by 130 runs. 

    Heshan Flexe ‘A’ - 187/7 (20) (Chalitha Chamod 26, Asela Jayasinghe 22, Nimesh Perera 59, Buddhika Prasad 36, Chameera Dissanayake 17 not out, Ashen Abeykoon 2/25, Nuwan Gunawardena 2/30) 

    Sapper SC - 57/8 (11) (Nuwan Gunawardena 20, Risith Upamal 2/6)

Special Awards: 

    Best Bowler – Ashen Abeykoon from Sapper CC.

    Best Batsman and Player of the Final – Nimesh Perera from Heshan Flexe ‘A’. 

Awards were presented by Assignment Secretary/SLCUA Nimal Boteju, Treasurer, SL Schools Cricket Association Bandula Vaz, Proprietor Heshan Flexe Packaging Ltd. Rasika Chandana, Director/CEO Nawaloka Group Kalhan Alwis who was the Guest of Honour and national cricketer Ajantha Mendis who was the Chief Guest.