MCA Premier League opening stage concludes

The first stage of the 24th Singer MCA Premier League ended on Saturday with the last series of matches. 

Winners MAS Unichela and the John Keells Group drew level with six wins and one loss each while Commercial Credit finished with five wins and two defeats. MAS Active, the 2016 league winners, finished with zero points, losing to HNB.

Minhaj Jaleel, who produced a fine all-round performance (3 for 45 and 122) steered HNB to their second win, beating MAS Active by three wickets. 

A punishing 87 not out by Mahela Udawatte and a stingy spell of bowling by Dilruwan Perera (3 for 48) paved the way for MAS Unichela to record a convincing four-wicket win over DIMO.

Skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa (3 for 30), Vikum Bandara (3 for 32) and Upul Indrasiri (2 for 10) propelled John Keells to a comfortable five-wicket win over Sampath Bank. 

Bowlers Lahiru Madusanka (4 for 18) and Shehan Jayasuriya (3 for 40) spearheaded Commercial Credit’s march to a commanding six-wicket win over Textured Jersey. 

The conclusion of the league stage of the competition sets up its knockout stage, which will commence on Saturday 8 October with the quarterfinals.      

Results of the  last set 

of matches  

At P. Sara oval: MAS Unichela beat DIMO by four wickets.

DIMO -  229  (47.1) (Heshan Dumindu  66, Jason Perera 44,  Lasith Abeyratne 20,  Dilruwan Perera 3/48,  Malinga Bandara 2/39,  Farveez Maharoof 2/50)

MAS Unichela -  230/6  (38.2)  (T.M. Dilshan 28,  Chamara Silva 27,  Dhanushka Gunatillake 27,  Rashmika Opatha 22,  Mahela Udawatte 87 not out,  Ramesh Mendis 2/37,  Nisala Tharaka 2/49)

At FTZ /Katunayake: John Keells beat Sampath Bank by five wickets. 

Sampath Bank – 99 (25.4)  (Chamika Karunaratne 30,  Primosh Perera 21,  Bhanuka Rajapaksa 3/30,  Vikum Bandara  3/32,  Upul Indrasiri 2/10)

JK  - 102/5  (13.2)  ( Sandun Weerakkody  40,  Kasun Rajitha 4/54)

At Colts – HNB beat MAS Active by three wickets.

MAS Active – 219 (48.1) (Angelo Perera 87, T.M. Sampath  29,  Minhaj Jaleel 3/45,  Madawa Warnapura 2/26,  Kosala Kulasekera  2/44)

HNB – 221/7 (45.0)  (Minhaj Jaleel 122,  Sachin Jayawardena 20,  Lasith Embuldeniya 4/36,  Sachithra Serasinghe 2/48)

At Moratuwa Stadium - Commercial Credit beat Textured Jersey by six wickets. 

Textured Jersey – 99 (29.3) (Minod Bhanuka 47,  Lahiru Madusanka 4/18,  Shehan Jayasuriya  3/40) 

Commercial  Credit - 103/4  (18.1) (Shehan Jayasuriya 29,  Suraj Randiv 27 not out, Lahiru Madusanka 24 not out, Nuwan Pradeep 2/15, Kalana de Silva 2/43)