Upul Tharanga’s 120-ball knock of 127 inclusive of 19 boundaries saw Commercial Credit record their third win in the 21st Singer Premier League cricket tournament. 

Commercial Credit scored a stunning 6-wicket win over defending champions MAS Active at the P. Sara Stadium yesterday. Commercial Credit in pursuit of 216 runs for victory was given a flying start by the openers Tharanga and Dilhan Cooray. The pair added 103 runs in 111 balls before they were separated with the dismissal of Cooray.

HNB batsman Ranil Dhammika is brilliantly stumped by John Keells wicket keeper Denuwan Rajakaruna - Pic by Amila Gamage

This was followed by Tharanga putting on another valuable stand of 67 runs for the second with Imesh Udayanga as they reached 170 for 2 in 34th over. Tharanga was the next victim but by then the foundation for a comfortable win had been laid. Chamara Kapugedera followed with Commercial Credit nearing the target on 197 for 4.

In the remaining ten overs Commercial Credit was left with just 19 runs for victory and they needed just three overs to achieve the target.

Earlier in the day defending champions MAS Active got off to an inauspicious start losing their first wicket with just one run on the board. A partnership of 65 runs for the second wicket between Dilshan Munaweera and T.N. Sampath saw them recover.

Later after being badly placed on 104 for 5 at the half way stage of the innings they managed to end up with a modest score of 215 which was insufficient.

A run a ball knock of 103 inclusive of 11 boundaries and a six by opener Shehan Jayasuriya helped John Keells amass 302 for 9. In their turn HNB were all out for 121. This paved the way for a comfortable 181-run win for John Keells in another match played at De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa.

The foundation for the massive win of John Keells was laid by Shehan and Denuwan Rajakaruna. The pair gave the side a sound start by putting on 100 runs in 98 balls before they were separated.

Shehan followed it up with another valuable partnership of 50 runs for the second wicket with Upul Bandara who also chipped in with 24 runs. At the halfway stage of the innings John Keells was well placed on 151 for 2.

From there onwards they lost wickets at regular intervals. However they piled on the runs thanks to some useful partnerships coming in between. The last ten overs was productive for John Keells as they added 68 runs with Akshu Fernando cracking 31 runs in only 23 balls.

Later Shehan put in another fine bowling performance along with Ishan Jayaratne and Upul Indrasiri as they combined to bundle out their opponents in the 38th over to record their fourth win of the tournament.

At P. Sara Oval: Commercial Credit beat MAS Active by 6 wickets

MAS Active 215 in 49.4 overs (Sameera de Zoysa 64, Dilshan Munaweera 40, T.N. Sampath 38: Lahiru Madusanka 3 for 36, Vishwa Fernando 3 for 38, Suraj Randiv 2 for 25)

Commercial Credit 217 for 4 in 42.2 overs (Upul Tharanga 127, Dilhan Cooray 26, Imesh Udayanga 17, Chathuranga de Silva 15)

At Moratuwa: John Keells beat HNB by 181 runs

John Keells 302 for 9 in 50 overs (Shehan Jayasuriya 103, Roshen Silva 33, Akshu Fernando 32, Denuwan Rajakaruna 24, Upul Bandara 24, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 19, Milinda Siriwardena 18, Ishan Jayaratne 20 n.o.: Hashan Goonetileke 3 for 47, Sajeewa Weerakoon 3 for 54)

HNB 121 all out in 37.3 overs (Buddhi Perera 36, Deshan Dias 20: Shehan Jayasuriya 3 for 21, Ishan Jayaratne 2 for 17, Upul Indrasiri 2 for 27)