MAS Active up against MAS Unichela today

Saturday, 26 November 2011 01:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The high-riding MAS Active with the “League” title in their pocket will now set their sights on the Knock-out title to complete an elusive double, as they confront their sister company, MAS Unichela in the 19th Singer-MCA Premier League 2012 Knock-out Final today, 26 November, at the SSC Grounds, commencing 10 a.m.

MAS Unichela finished runners-up to Seylan Bank in the 2011 K-O tournament. When the two teams met each other in their league outing on 6 November at Katunayake, MAS Active romped home to an easy 65 runs win over MAS Unichela.

So far in the tournament, MAS Active as the league winner, earned a “bye” to the Semi-Finals where they nudged out HNB in the penultimate over by 05 wickets in a high scoring game which yielded 03 centurions.

MAS Active owe their win to young , Dilshan Munaweera , who carried his bat out with a brilliant 129 not out in 127 balls with five sixes and 11 fours.

MAS Unichela, as the 2nd placed team in the league played as the bottom seed and eliminated Sampath Bank on a technical Knock-out in the first round and scored a narrow 14 runs win over John Keells in the semi finals.

The match winners for Unichela in the semi-final were Shalika Karunanayake (75 runs in 81 balls with nine fours and two sixes) and Malinda Warnapura (4 for 34).

MAS Unichela is expecting the return of T.M. Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Dilruwan Perera, Chamara Silva and Kusal Janith immediately after the 20+20 game against Pakistan on Friday. The players who are expected to arrive on Saturday around 8.00 am and will make a bee-line to the SSC straight from the airport before the toss at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

More than the MCA title, the two teams will treat this game as a “Big” match. Both teams will fill the ground with their staff and supporters creating a carnival atmosphere.

Match Officials: MCA appointed Match Referee is Basil Perera. The on field umpires are Asoka de Silva and Tyrone H. Wijewardena with Keerthi Bandara as the Reserve Official all from the Association of Professional Cricket Umpires

The Guest of Honor at the opening ceremony will be Sujeewa Perera, Factory Manager and the Chief Guest at the awards , presentation will be Shaym Ramanathan, Director Logistics (both from Singer Sri Lanka PLC).

If rain does not intervene, the match is bound t be a “power- keg” with a short fuse.

The teams

Team MAS Unichela: Malin Silva (Captain), Malinda Warnapura, Mahela Udawatta, Gayan Wijekoon, Farveez Mahroof, Malinga Bandara, Shalika Karunanayake , Dunil Abeydeera, Sohan Boraless, Lassana Perera, Manju Fernando, Rashimal Mendis, Nadeera Nawala, Lahiru Silva and Chathura Peiris.

Team MAS Active : Jeewantha Kulathunga (Captain), T.M. Sampath, Tharanga Lakshitha, Angelo Perera, Kithruwan Vithanage , Sachithra Senanayake, Dilshan Munaweera, Sachithra Serasinghe, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Sameera Zoysa, Geeth Alwis, Tyrone Gamage, Kasun Madusanka, Irosh Samarasooriya and Roy Prasanga Silva.