Unions Assurance win MCA Over-40 Sixes
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Union Assurance's Punyanthaka Abeygunawardene in action - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Union Assurance General regained the MCA Over-40 Cricket Title, when they beat 2015 runners-up, John Keells Group, in the annual MCA Over-40 Cricket Sixes 2016, concluded at the MCA grounds last Sunday. The tournament with 13 teams pooled into four groups was simultaneously conducted at the MCA and Wesley College Grounds, consisting 18 matches including the final. The 2015 winner, Singer Sri Lanka lost to Union Assurance General in the semi-finals at MCA, Union Assurance General scored 73 for no loss in 5 overs and Singer fell short by 6 runs (67 for 3 (5).
In the semi-final played at the Wesley College grounds, John Keells beat Commercial Bank; John Keells scored 59 for 1 in 5 overs and restricted Commercial Bank to 40 for 3 in 5 overs. When all was set for the Final, the light drastically dipped with imminent signs of a thunder shower at 4.45 pm ; thus the final was reduced to 3 balls; Union Assurance – 31 for 1 (3.2) (Eric Upashantha 15 not out Susantha de Mel 15 not out, Adrian G. Jaakeey 1/8). Union Assurance General team comprised of Mahesh de Alwis (Captain), Eric Upashantha, Sanjaya Attanayake, Sanjaya Siriwardena, Susantha de Mel, Anil Fonseka, Priyankara Abeyratne & Priyanka Jayanama (average age 44.3)
John Keells Group : P.K. Abeygunasekera (Captain), Gamini Fernando, Wasanthalal Fernando, Ravi Subasinghe , Mahendra Amarasinghe, Arul Kumar Jabamony , Adrian G. Jayakody and David Suppiah. (Average Age 47.1) Tournament was sponsored by Ceylon Cold Stores PLC., and was contested for the ‘Elephant House Lemonade’ Trophy. Awards were presented by Chief Guest, Field Sales Manager, E.H. Beverages, Deeptha Perera, Senior VP/MCA, Roshan Iddamalgoda, General Secretary /MCA Nalin Wickramasinghe and Cricket Association.
The Special Awards
Best Bowler: Ravi Subasinghe from John Keells (3.2 overs 24 runs, 6 wickets)
Best Batsman and Most Number of Sixes: Sanjaya Attanayake from Union Assurance General (4 innings, 116 runs with 8 Sixes)
Man of the Final: Eric Upashantha from Union Assurance General
Most Senior Player: Anura de Silva from Sri Lanka Telecom, born 27th June 1958 (58 years) - LR