Thursday Nov 12, 2026
Thursday Nov 12, 2026
Tuesday, 20 October 2026 01:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By P D DE SILVA
JKH Group, Melwire Rolling and English Tea Shop registered wins as the 7th edition of the CBL Munchee-sponsored Mercantile Cricket Association’s Challengers League Cricket Tournament (formerly D Division) got underway last weekend.
On Saturday, in a match reduced to 45 overs per side at the Nalanda College Ground, Mohamed Muiz smashed a run-a-ball unbeaten 95 and Nadun Basnayake grabbed five wickets to help JKH Group beat Colombo Dockyard by 161 runs.
On the same day, half-centuries by Sisitha Madanayake and Nethma Karunarathna helped Melwire Rolling defeat Nations Trust Bank by 117 runs at the FTZ Ground in Katunayake, as a half-ton by Nations Trust Bank’s Devaka Peiris went in vain.
On Sunday at the Colts ground, the English Tea Shop bowlers defended 153 runs to beat People’s Leasing by seven runs. Ramesh Fernando scored 66 off 89 balls and captured two wickets for the winners, while Themiya Gunarathne scored 53 off 73 balls for People’s Leasing.
On Saturday:
At Nalanda College Ground
Muiz’s 95* and Nadun’s five-fer power JKH Group to big win: JKH Group 232/8 in 45 overs (Vinuja Mendis 23, Dinith Nelumdeniya 24, Mohamed Muiz 95*, Pasan Gunathunga 22, Kushan Herath 42, Aruna Meemanage 26; Nirosh Buddhika 2-46) beats Colombo Dockyard 121/10 in 33.1 overs (Shanaka Kasun 26, Pathum Nethsara 23, Hashan Janith 27; Nadun Basnayake 5-17, Chanaka Rajapaksha 2-26)
At FTZ ground Katunayake
Melwire Rolling beat NTB by 117 runs: Melwire Rolling 256/10 in 49.3 overs (Uvindu Perera 20, Ashan Fernando 38, Sisitha Madanayake 61, Nethma Karunarathna 65; Inosh Gunawardena 2-37, Madushan Chathuranga 3-51, Anjula Fernando 3-26) beats Nations Trust Bank 139/10 in 42.0 overs (Ramith Perera 22, Devaka Peiris 55; Kamesh Mallawaarachchi 2-24, Sithum Fernando 3-14, Sisitha Madanayake 2-15)
On Sunday:
At the Colts ground
English Tea Shop won by 7 runs: English Tea Shop 153/10 in 43.0 overs (Ramesh Fernando 66, Sachintha Sandaruwan 22; Sanath Dasanayake 2-22, Isuru Gunasekera 4-24) beats People’s Leasing 146/10 in 44.4 overs (Themiya Gunarathne 53, Sanath Dasanayake 21; Gaveen Gunarathna 2-23, Oshada Wickremesinghe 2-36, Ramesh Fernando 2-25)
