Tharanga Indika 86 — the highlight
Kushan Fernando - Janashakthi
The MCA Division ‘F’ 25-over League Tournament 2016 sponsored by Commercial Credit and Finance PLC, reached the semi-final stage last weekend when HNB ‘B’, Heshan Flexe Packaging, MJF Exports and Nippon Paint booked their berths seeking for the finals. In the quarter-finals that were worked off last weekend, HNB ‘B’ defeated HSBC ‘C’ by 6 wickets, Heshan Flexe beat Janashakthi Insurance by 105 runs, MJF Exports beat EB Creasey by 8 wickets and Nippon Paint edging out Hayleys Group ‘B’ by 2 runs.
HNB ‘B’ chasing a modest total of 151 runs set up by HSBC ‘C’, finished on the right side of the ledger, riding on a well compiled innings of their opening batsman, Malindu Perera, who carried his bat out scoring an unbeaten 75 off 62 balls, hitting 13 fours in the process. Heshan Flexe No.9 batsman, Ruwan Ranasinghe performed an unbelievable feat of remaining 68 not out in 30 balls inclusive of six sixes and a equal number of fours. Heshan Flexe, batting first was in spot of bother, losing seven wickets for 115 runs in 16 overs. Ranasinghe held the tail, as Heshan Flexe finished with a challenging total of 209 for 8 in their allotted 25 overs.
Half centuries by opener, Krishan Rajendra (67 not out in 58 balls, with two sixes and a half a dozen fours) along with No.4 batsman, Sanjeewa Silva’s undefeated (50 in 29 balls, with four sixes and four fours) guided MJF Exports to a comfortable win over EB Creasey, with nearly five overs to spare. A 90-run partnership for the third wicket off 65 balls, between opener Tharanga Indika (86 in 70 balls, consisting of three sixes and six fours) and Malith Cooray (40), and a stingy spell of bowling by Naveen Kavikara (5-0-30–4) gave Nippon Paint a heart stopping 2-run win over Hayleys Group ‘B’.
Hayleys chasing 191 runs to win got off to a good start with opener Thilan Pathberiya (73 in 57 balls with four sixes and six fours) setting the pace was involved in a 76-run opening stand with Ranil Cooray (35) and 55 runs for the second wicket with Thilina Silva (25) and with the dismissal of this trio, Hayleys needed 60 runs to win in 47 balls and eventually needed 11 runs in the last over with the last pair standing. Malith Perera, who bowled that deciding final over gave away eight runs in his first four balls and then clean bowled No.10 batsman, Shanon Lee (15) in his next delivery, thus Nippon Paint finishing the job, scrapping the bottom by two runs with a ball to spare.
Quarter-final results
1st QF at Wesley: HNB ‘B’ beat HSBC ‘C’ by 6 wickets
HSBC ‘C’ 150 all out (25) (Dulanga Lakmal 41, S. Patterson 31, D. Panditharatne 3/27)
HNB ‘B’ 151/4 (21.3) (Malindu Perera 75 not out)
2nd QF at MCA: Heshan Flexe Packaging beat Janashakthi Insurance by 105 runs
HFP 209/8 (25) ( D. Harshana 40, R. Ranasinghe 68 not out, K. Fernando 3/42)
Janashakthi 104 all out (18.1) (M. Ranasinghe 40, Rasika Chandana 3/33)
3rd QF at Mattegoda: MJF beat EB Creasey by 8 wickets
EBC 159/8 (25) (P. Eranda 35, P. Edirisinghe 30 not out, C. Janaka 2/22, S. Sinnathamby 2/25)
MJF 160/2 (21.1) (K. Rajendren 67 not out, S. Silva 50 not out)
4th QF at Mattegoda: Nippon Paint beat Hayleys ‘B’ by 2 runs
Nippon Paint 190/5 (25) (Tharanga Indika 86, Malith Cooray 40)
Hayleys ‘B’ 188 all out (24.5) (T. Pathberiya 75, Ranil Coory 35, Naveen Kavikara 4/30, H. de Silva 2/38, G. Dilruk 2/25)
Tharindu Suraj sweeps - Pix by Ranjith Perera.