Umayanga and Chathuranga help Citizens DB reach final
Citizens Development Business will meet Lankem Lanka in the 14th David Pieris Group of Companies sponsored ‘DPGC’ Challenge Trophy – MCA Division ‘E 30-over League Tournament 2016 by defeating Mercantile Investments Ltd., and UB Finance respectively in the two semi-finals played over last weekend. In the first semi-final left arm leg-spinner Umayanga Premakumara (6-0-39-6) and opening batsman, Chaturanga Dikkumbura (67 off 41 deliveries, inclusive of five sixes and four fours) spearheaded Citizens Development Business to a resounding five wicket victory over Mercantile Investment Ltd.
Chaturanga Dikkumbura 67 top scred for CDB - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Mercantile Investment sent into bat could muster only 180 in 29.3 overs. Except for a gutsy second wicket partnership of 87 runs between Dilshan Rusiru (65 in 58 balls, consisting of a six and seven fours) and Ravindu Lakshan (43 in 45 balls with three sixes and a four), rest of the batsmen had no answer against the mesmerizing leggie Umayanga Premakumara. CDB chasing a victory target of 181 in 30 overs achieved it in the 27th over. The victory was anchored by Dikkumbura was well supported by D. Dharmasiri (30) and V. Ratnayake (26 n.o.). In the second semi-final Lankem Lanka survived a stormy last over, as they held on to a stunning one run win over UB Finance.
Lanken winning the toss, put up a moderate 206 for the loss of nine wickets in 30 overs mainly due to the second wicket partnership of 120 runs between Rukshan Weerasinghe (68 off 71 balls, inclusive of two sixes and eight fours) and Lisula Weerasekera (67 in 30 balls inclusive of four hits over the ropes and seven hits to the ropes). As the two ‘W’s left the scene, UBF bowlers Nipuna Gamage (6-0-42-4) and Arosha Perera (3-0-30-5) took control of the game as they ripped through the Lankem batting line to halt at 206 for 9 in 30 overs.
UBF in their quest for victory with a target score of 207 runs in 30 overs (RPO 6.9) kept the momentum going via Pathum Madusanka (62 in 49 balls with two sixes and six fours) and Nithum Jayawickrema (65 n.o. coming in 26 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and three fours). The moment of truth for UBF arrived with the scoreboard reading 187 for 7 in 29 overs. Needing 24 runs to get in the last over with Nithum Jayawickrema on 46 on strike and the last over was bowled by Dhanushka Artigala.
Jayawickrema exploded, hitting two sixes in the first two deliveries but Attigala held his nerve as his third and fourth deliveries were dot balls. Jayawickrema once again exploded as he swung the fifth delivery for a six, leaving six to get in the last delivery. Jayawickrema swung again, but to his utter disappointment the ball fell short of the boundary and rolled on to a four – 205 for 7 in 30 overs giving a nail biting win for Lankem. Dinesh Chandimal (6-0-23-2) and Chameera Dissnayake (6-0-40-3) were the pick of bowlers to contain the rampaging batsmen.
Chief Scores:
1st semi-final
Mercantile Investments 180 all out (29.3) (Dilshan Rusiru 65, Ravindu Lakshan 43, C. Hemachandra 21, Dinesh Seneviratne 21, Umayanga Premakumara 6 for 39)
Citizens Development Business 181 for 5 wickets (26.3) (Chaturanga Dikkumbura 67, D. Dharmasiri 30, V. Ratnayake 26 n.o., Dilshan Rusiru 2 for 50)
2nd semi-final
Lankem Lanka 206 for 9 wickets (30) (Rukshan Weerasinghe 68, Lisula Weerasekera 67, R. Fernando 22, P. Kumarasinghe 21, Nipuna Gamage 4 for 42, Arosha Perera 5 for 30)
UB Finance 205 for 7 wickets (30) (Pathum Madusanka 62, Nithum Jayawickrema 65 n.o., Nipuna Gamage 30, Dinesh Chandimal 2 for 23, Chameera Dissanayke 3 for 40)