LB Finance (Tier ‘A’), Janashakthi (Tier ‘B’) MCA 6-a-side Champs
LB Finance's Ranitha Liyanarachchi won two awards - Pic by Ranjith Perera
LB Finance and Janashakthi Insurance proved their superiority in the shortest version of the game by winning the Tier ‘A’ and Tier ‘B’ titles respectively, in the MCA Annual Open Six-a-side Cricket Tournament 2016, concluded at the MCA and Thurstan College grounds last Sunday. The tournament commenced on Saturday, July 23, with 18 teams playing in the Tier ‘A’ segment and 45 teams playing in the Tier ‘B’ segment.
The Tier ‘A’ (at MCA) which was hampered by rain, was reduced to a ‘Bowl-Out’ contest and subsequently the Final.
The Tier ‘A’ matches with 6 teams in 2 groups, got off to a glorious start in bright sunshine, but was stopped in its tracks when the heavens suddenly opened at 10 am. Around 2:30 pm, the MCA Tournament Committee decided to enforce the ‘Bowl-Out’ contest to move the tournament forward. The ‘Bowl-Out’ contest was conducted on Knockout format, after a draw with the 6 qualifying teams, MAS Unichela ‘B’, MAS Active, MAS Silueta, NTB, Mobitel and LB Finance (LBF). LBF from the top half and Mobitel from the bottom half successfully hit their targets to enter the Final.
Tier ‘A’: LBF beat Mobitel by 7 runs
LBF 59/5 (5) (Ranitha Liyanarachchi 20, Koshan Jayawickrama 1/6, Tariq Nazir 2/6, Rangana Rajapaksa 1/17) Mobitel 52/3 (5) (Sithara Gimhana 26 n.o., Ranitha Liyanarachchi 2/7, Shiran Fernando 1/10)
Special Awards:
Most Sixes and Man of the Final:
Ranitha Liyanarachchi (LBF)
Best Bowler: Buddhika Sanjeewa
(MAS Silueta ‘A’)
Best Batsman:Chathura Peiris
(MAS Unichela ‘B’)
Tier ‘B’: Pre quarter-final stage of the tournament with 14 teams was conducted at Thurstan and Wesley College grounds on a Knockout format.
Semi-finals: MAS Silueta ‘B’ 31/2 (5) lost to Janashakthi 33/0 (3); Asia Asset Finance (AAF) 53/3 (5) lost to Stafford Motors 54/0 (3.4) Dinesh Perera of AAF was the highest scorer in Tier ‘B’ with an aggregate of 154 runs (including 7 sixes) scored in five match innings with 3 not outs. His highest score was an unbeaten 60. Michael Prashanth also of AAF claimed the highest number (7) of wickets (5-0-50-7), and was judged Best Bowler.
Final: Janashakthi Insurance beat Stafford Motors by 12 runs
Janashakthi 80/0 (5) (Vindika Chandrasekera 32 n.o., Ranga Dias 28 n.o.)
Stafford Motors 68/2 (5) (A. Singappuli 20, Sanjaya Gangodawila 16, Shanaka Sampath 24 n.o., Sameera Fernando 1/13, Ranga Dias 1/5)
Special Awards:
Most Sixes and Man of the Final:
Ranga Dias (Janashakthi)
Best Bowler:Micheal Prashanth (AAF)
Best Batsman: Nimesh Perera (AAF)
Awards were given away by MCA Officials, Roshan Iddamalgoda, Nalin Wickremasinghe, Sujeewa de Silva and Sanjaya Wijesinghe.