Sameera Soysa’s brilliant knock of 54 inclusive of five boundaries was enough to guide MAS Active to a double as they clinched the Singer-MCA Premier Knockout Championship beating Hatton National Bank (HNB) by 38 runs in the final played at the Colts ground yesterday. Chasing a reasonable target of 227 for victory HNB spoilt a [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Clinical MAS Active clinches MCA double

By M. Shamil Amit
Mercantile Knockout Final
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Sameera Soysa’s brilliant knock of 54 inclusive of five boundaries was enough to guide MAS Active to a double as they clinched the Singer-MCA Premier

Sameera Soysa who made a top score of 54 for MAS Active in action. - Pic by Ranjith Perera.

Knockout Championship beating Hatton National Bank (HNB) by 38 runs in the final played at the Colts ground yesterday.

Chasing a reasonable target of 227 for victory HNB spoilt a golden opportunity of winning a title as three run outs put breaks on to their campaign, giving the Mercantile Premier League champions MAS Active their second title of the year. HNB made a reasonable start but eventually were shot out for 188 runs with 15 balls to spare despite a fighting knock by their skipper Kosala Kulasekara who hit 48 while hit men fell victim to a team effort of MAS Active. Besides Kulasekara, Hashan Gunathilaka and Ashen Fernando made worthy contributions, hitting 37 and 33 respectively in a losing cause. T.N. Sampath emerged as the top wicket taker for MAS Active with two scalps.

Earlier after being sent into to bat MAS Active was in a spot of bother with the side struggling on 47 for 3 in the tenth over. It was Udara Jayasundara and Sachitra Serasinghe who began the recovery act with the pair putting on a valuable 59 runs stand for the fourth wicket. At the halfway stage of the innings they were 110 for 4 scoring at four runs an over. The dismissal of Jayasundera who made 43 in 47 balls which had three boundaries saw them falling back. It was from here that Sameera Soysa came to their rescue as he was associated in some useful partnerships which helped MAS Active to go past the 200 runs mark.

Sachitra Serasinghe (25) and Sachitra Senanayake (19) were the other two batsmen to make useful contributions while for HNB spinners Ranil Dhammika and Sajeewa Weerakoon and skipper Kulasekera shared eight wickets which enable them restrict their opponents to a score of 226.

Meanwhile the MCA league tournament which was concluded two weeks ago saw MAS Active emerging the champion for the second successive year. Mahela Udawatte (MAS Unichela), Sajeewa Weerakoon (HNB), Harsha Vithana (Seylan Bank) were adjudged the best batsman, fielder and man-of-the-tournament while Dimuth Karunaratne of John Keells took the Emerging Player award which was offered for the first time.

MAS Active 226 all out in 47.1 overs (Sameera Soysa 54, Udara Jayasundara 43, Dilshan Munaweera 34, Sacithra Serasinghe 25, Sachitra Senanayake 19: Ranil Dhammika 3/35, Sajeewa Weerakoon 3/41, Kosala Kulasekera 2/48)

HNB 188 all out in 47.3 overs (Kosala Kulasekara 48, Hashan Gunathilaka 37, Ashen Fernando 33: TN Sampath 2/32)




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