MCA 2017 season kicks off with MIDS Trophy – “B” division 50-Over League tournament

The MCA 2017 season got off to a start last weekend with the MIDS Trophy – “B” division 50-Over League tournament. 

Hayleys Group “A”, Kanrich Finance “A”, Mobitel “A” and LB Finance “A” were the winners of the tournament openers. 

Nimanda Madusanka from PABC Bank “A”, Ronil Cooray from Hayleys Group “A” and Gayan Sirisoma from Seylan Bank were the week-end’s top performers. 

Madusanka hit a swashbuckling 102 not out in 73 balls, inclusive of 06 sixes and 10 fours; he was associated in a total building 131 runs stand for the 07th wicket with B. de Alwis (52), to put the bankers on a sound footing – 291 for 7 in 50 Overs. 

But Madusanka’s effort did not bear fruit, as Hayleys Group opening batsman, Ronil Cooray effectively collard the PABC bowlers with a run-a-ball 117 not out with 16 hits to the ropes and 01 over it, as he carried his bat out in one hand and a 05 wickets win in the other.

Cooray got stuck with Visula Weerasekera (72 in 71 balls, with 02 sixes and 10 fours) and sealed their win with a bright 140 runs stand for the 2nd wicket in 127 balls, reaching their target (292 for 5) with 5.2 overs to spare. 

A 115 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket in 133 balls, between Kasun Vidura (74 in 96 balls with hits to the ropes) and Thavan Wickramasinghe (56) and a stingy spell of bowling by Roshan Laksiri ( 6.3 – 18 – 4) gave Kanrich Finance “A” a convincing 57 runs win over John Keells “B”.

Leg spinner Ranga Rajapakse (8-1-25-5) and Medium pacer, M. Shiraz (7-2-20-3) bowled out Commercial Bank “A” for a paltry 103 runs in 25 overs, as Mobitel went home for tea with a cake walk 161 runs win. 

Old war horse, Gayan Sirisoma bowled an inspired spell of 10-1-24-6, but it was inadequate for Seylan Bank to defend their moderate total of 159 runs mustered in 38.2 overs, as LB Finance coasted to a 04 wickets win with more than 18 overs to spare. Seylan Bank, who played in the MCA Premier League for over two decades is playing second fiddle this year , due to lack of strength in their team. 

Opening weekend’s match results/four matches

At Moratuwa Stadium – Hayleys Group “A” beat PABC Bank “A” by 05 wickets.

PABC “A” – 291 for 7 in 50-Overs ( Nimanda Madusanka 102 not out, B. de Alwis 52, L. Wickramasinghe 30, V. Deepal 33, H. Rajapaksa 3/55, Ali Khan 2/70, M. Deepal 2/60)

Hayleys “A” – 292 for 5 in 44.4 overs (Ranil Cooray 117 not out, Visula Weerasekera 72, Maduranga Soysa 55, V. Deepal 2/12, G. Bopage 2/44)

At FTZ Grounds, Katunayake – Kanrich Finance “A” beat John Keells Group “B” by 57 runs. 

Kanrich Finance “A” – 252 for 9 in 50 overs. (Kasun Vidura 74, Pavan Wickramasinghe 56, K. Kulasekera 36, P. Jayasuriya 32 not out T. Ratnayake 3/65, H. Wickramasuriya 2/34, S. Perera 2/44)

JK “B” – 195 all out in 41.3 Overs (T. Ratnayake 50, S. Ushan 45, R. Laksiri 4/18, M. Wijeyalath 3/56, P. Jayasuriya 2/24)

At the Moratuwa Stadium: Mobitel “A” beat Commercial Bank “A” by 161 runs.

Mobitel “A” – 264 for 8 in 50 overs ( J. Roshan 53, L. Jayasinghe 45 not out, P. Thirimadura 32, A. Ranasinghe 3/45, S. Gunawardena 2/37)

Commercial Bank “A” – 103 all out in 25.0 overs (Manjula Silva 16, A. Ranasinghe 20, R. Rajapaksa 5/25, M. Shiraz 3/20)

At FTZ Grounds, Katunayake: LB Finance “A” beat Seylan Bank by 04 wickets. 

Seylan Bank – 159 all out in 38.2 overs (Kanchana Gunawardena 45, Tharanga Paranavitana 25, Rajeeve Weerasinghe 3/37, C. Sudaraka 2/17, S. Fernando 2/35)

LBF “A” – 161 for 6 in 31.5 overs (Chathuranga Kumara 42 not out, Lakshan Rodrigo 30, Gayan Sirisoma 6/24)

The tournament will be continued on Wednesday, 31 August and Saturday 3 September with a card of six matches.