Run riot at the newly laid MCA track
The freshly relayed MCA turf wicket turned into a bowlers night mare, as 648 runs were scored in 88.3 overs (7.32 RPO), inclusive of 24 sixes and 60 fours, in the ongoing 5th Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, ‘BMW-Hyundai’ Cup, MCA ‘C’ division 50-Over League Tournament 2016, continued last week-end.
Bhanuka Adisha in action. Pic by Ranjith Perera
The above match was between McLarens Group and HSBC ‘A’ played last Sunday. HSBC ‘A’ batting first made a remarkable recovery from 146 for 7 in 29 overs to 323 for 9 in 50 overs via a gallant 140 runs stand for the 8th wicket between Nishika de Silva (batting at No. 7, scoring 121 in 95 balls, inclusive of four sixes and 18 fours) and Kasun Weerasinghe (batting at No. 09, scoring 86 not out in 55 balls inclusive of eight sixes and a half a dozen of fours)
The Bankers would have enjoyed their lunch, but it was short lived as McLarens launched a battle to reduce the bankers, raising to their target in 38.3 overs, losing just two wickets (325 for 2). McLarens opener, Shaminda Fernando, carried his bat out with a belligerent 158 not out in 126 balls, inclusive of ten sixes and 12 fours; Shaminda Fernando made MCA his happy hunting ground, as he hammered a 94-ball, 114 against NTB ‘A’ on Thai Pongal day. Shaminda Fernando and one drop batsman, Tharindu Rukshan (69 in 60 balls which included 10 hits to the ropes) made mince-meat out of the bankers bowling attack, as they struck 185 runs for the second wicket in 130 balls.
It was a disappointing week-end for HSBC ‘A’, who earlier crumbled to a 72 runs defeat at the hands of NTB ‘A’. HSBC ‘A’ had the game in their grasp putting NTB ‘A’ by the ropes, who were reeling at 57 for 5; but they let the game go by with a generous dose of 40 extras and rearguard resistance coming from Avishka Liyanage (33 in 69 balls), and Sham Fernando (40 in 73 balls), who were associated in a 80 runs stand for sixth wicket.
HSBC ‘A’ chasing a moderate total of 191 in 50 overs, got off to a steady start, but failed to consolidate, as the pace-spin attack of Mahisha Thanthrigoda (9-1-30-3) and Tharindu Lakshan (8-3-16-2) overpowered them, being all out for a paltry 118 in 31.1 overs.
Weekend’s other centurion was Pan Asia Bank’s opening batsman, Thusith Silva, who stroked a well compiled 133 in 132 balls, inclusive of three sixes and 16 fours, which gave them a handsome 149 runs win over Airport and Aviation. Surprisingly, the two bowlers who had the week-end’s best figures were B. Karunasagara from Colombo Dockyard (8-1-47-5 Vs. McLarens) and M.E. Kodagoda from Airport & Aviation Services (9.2 -1-48- Vs. PABC) were on the losing side. - LR
Weekend’s Match Results
At Havelock Park: Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ beat HSBC ‘A’ by 72 runs
NTB ‘A 190 (46.5) (N. Pathirana 37, A. Liyanage 33, Shan Fernando 40, S. Subasinghe 4/20, P. de Soyza 2/35, A. Kariyawasam 2/30)
HSBC ‘A’ 118 (31.1) (S. Subasinghe 22, S. Wijetunge 22, K. Weerasinghe 35, M. Thanthrigoda 3/30, S. Perera 2/22, T. Lakshan 2/16, T. Dabare 2/30)
At MCA: Std. Chartered Bank beat Peoples’ Leasing and Finance PLC by 4 wickets
PLC 233 (48.5) (S. Sandaruwan 46, N. Sanjeewa 25, I. Perera 20, K. Wickramarachchi 61, T. Harshana 26, T. Fernando 2/43, S. Jamian 2/49, B. Adeesha 2/38)
SCB 239/6 (33.3) (B. Adeesha 74, C. Satharasinghe 31, A. Hendrickson 44, M. Jayasinghe 33, T. Fernando 24 not out, I. Perera 2/37)
At Katunayake: McLarens Group beat Colombo Dockyard by 202 runs
McLarens 267/9 (50) (M. Jerome 45, S. Fernando 20, S. Hettiarachchi 22, R. Maduwantha 33, P. Dissanayake 24 not out, B. Karunasagara 5/47, NB Kumara 3/30)
CDL 65 (19.3) (S. Peiris 2/27, P. Dissanayake 4/20, F. Fernando 3/0)
At MCA: McLarens Group beat HSBC ‘A’ by 8 wickets
HSBC ‘A’ 323/9 (50) (R. Seneviratne 31, D. Melder 24, Nishika de Silva 121, Kasun Weerasinghe 86 not out, S. Peiris 3/56, T. Rujshan 3/48, S. Hettiarachchi 2/61)
McLarens 325/2 (38.3) (M. Gerome 35, Shaminda Fernando 151 not out, T. Rukshan 69, N. de Silva 2/78)
At. Katunayake: Pan Asia Bank beat Airport and Aviation by 149 runs
PABC 276 (48.2) (Thusitha Silva 133, C. Sansaka 30, N. Subasinghe 26, S. Fernando 20 not out, M.D.R. Peiris 2/61, K.S. Palihakkara 2/48, M.E. Kodagoda 5/48)
A and A 127(29.4) (B. de Alwis 2/8, P. Chandrasekera 3/21)
At Kotahena: Colombo Dockyard beat JL Morison by 144 runs
CDL 288 (49.2) (R. I. Iriyagolla 82, R.S. Perera 50, D.S. Kasun 46, B. Kumara 33, K. Chathuranga 4/28, S. Ahamed 2/22)
JLM 144 (33) (K. Abeysinghe 55, S. Ahamed 20, D.S. Kasun 3/20, B. Kumara 3/15, A. Sirimanne 2/26)
This concluded the league stage of the tournament and the four top teams of the two groups advanced to the Knock-out quarter finals.
Group ‘A’ Standings: (1) McLarens Group (unbeaten /16 points), (2) Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ (12 points) (3) Colombo Dockyard (8 points ) and (4) HSBC ‘A’ (4 points)
Group ‘B’ Standings: (1) Pan Asia Bank (Unbeaten (12 points), (2) Std. Chartered Bank (8 points), (3) People’s Leasing & Finance (4 points) and (4) Airport & Aviation Services (nil).
The quarter finals will be worked off this weekend as follows:
1st QF: McLarens Vs A&A at MCA; 2nd QF: Std. Chartered Bank Vs. Colombo Dockyard at Colts; 3rd QF: PABC Vs HSBC ‘A’ at Wesley; 4th QF: NTB ‘A’ Vs Peoples Leasing at Colts