Heshan Flexe Champs at maiden appearance
Gayan Prasanna
Heshan Flexe Packaging (HFP) tasted success as Champions in their maiden outing at MCA Cricket, when they beat Nippon Paints (NP) by 36 runs, in the 1st Commercial Credit & Finance PLC sponsored, MCA Division ‘F’ 25-Over League Tournament Final 2016,concluded at the MCA grounds last weekend. HFP taking first lease of the wicket after winning the toss, got off to a flying start, with openers, D. Harshana- 27 in 13 balls and R. Chandana- 18 in 16 balls, putting on 30 runs off 20 balls, while No.3 Gayan Prasanga chipped in with 28 in 30 balls, as HF progressed to 90 for 4 in 11 overs.
The nucleus of the inning was the 52-run stand in 35 balls for the 5th wicket between Tharindu Suraj- 25 and Buddhika Prasad- 41 in 20 balls, with a six and 5 fours, which put them on a sound footing at 142 for 5 in 17 overs. After a middle order slump, the HFP tail wagged with Sapumal Senadeera- 18 and Chathura Perera- 15 putting on 30 runs for the 9th wicket, to end up with a challenging 198 in the allotted 25 overs. Spinners, Naveen Kavikara (5-0-25-2) and skipper, Heshan de Silva (5-0-40-4) were the pick of the bowlers for NP. Kavikara, thus took his season’s figures to 33 overs 157 runs 18 wickets, in 8 matches.
NP in their run-chase never kept up to the required run rate of 7.96 RPO. The only redeeming feature was the 2nd wicket stand of 60 runs in 46 balls, between opener, Tharanga Indika- 69 in 51 balls, inclusive of 5 sixes and 2 fours, and No.3 Malith Cooray- 36. None of the other batsmen entered double figures, as slow medium pacer, Risith Upamal took full control, to skittle out NP from 132 for 4 to 162 in 24.4 overs, thus finishing with fine figures of 4.4-1-20-5. HFP’s Risith Upamal, who was also responsible for the brilliant run-out of NP’s skipper, Heshan de Silva, was named Man-of-the-Match by Match Referee, Pemlal Fernando.
NP’s opening bat-wicketkeeper, who took his season’s tally to 567 runs in 8 innings, inclusive of 5 half-centuries and a 155 not out, won Best Batsmanand Man-of-the-Series. The Best Bowler’s award went to Buddhi Perera of HNB ‘B’ (7 matches, 33 overs, 154 runs 17 wickets up to the semi-finals). The Chief Guest at the post-tournament awards presentation was Assistant General Manager- Sales, Commercial Credit & Finance, Nirosh Madawela. He along with the MCA’s President- Niran Mahawatte, General Secretary- Nalin Wickramasinghe, Chairman Sponsorship Committee- Rohan Somawansa and Chairman Tournament Committee- Sujeewa de Silva gave away the awards. - LR
Heshan Flexe Packaging 198 all out (25) (D. Harshana 27, R. Chandana 18, G. Prasanga 28, T. Suraj 25, B. Prasad 41, S. Senanayake 18, Chathura Perera 15, Heshan de Silva 4/40, Dhaham Liyanage 3/57, Naveen Kavikara 2/25)
Nippon Paint 162 all out (24.4) (Tharanga Indika 69, Malith Cooray 36, N. Hasaral 2/29, Risith Upamal 5/20)
Heshan de Silva