LB Finance ‘A’ Kumara’s 116 in 58 balls (9 sixes, 10 fours) the showpiece
Pramod Madusanka
The Surrey Village Grounds lit up as Chathuranga Kumara belted 9 towering sixes and 10 sizzling fours in his innings of 116 in just 58 balls, to lift LB Finance (LBF) ‘A’ to a fine 63 runs win over MAS Silueta ‘A’ in their ‘MIDS’ Trophy, MCA ‘B’ Division 50–Over League Tournament 2017, continued last weekend. MAS Silueta ‘A’ initially seemed amply justified in their decision to send in their opponents to bat first, as LBF ‘A’ slid to 131 for 8, with Chathuranga Kumara standing on the burning deck fighting fire with fire.
Chathuranga Kumara with the aid of No. 10 Shiran Fernando (6) put on 50 runs for the 9th wicket, and with last man, T. Weerakoon (2) put 80 runs for the last wicket, as LBF ‘A’ rose from the dead, to finish with a respectable 251 in 36.1 overs. LBF ‘A’ bowlers, T. Weerakoon (3/34), Rajeeve Weerasinghe (2/14) and C. Sudaraka (2/37) inspired by Chathuranga’s brave effort, bowled their hearts out to restrict MAS Silueta ‘A’ to 188 runs in 43.2 overs. LBF ‘A’ is so far unbeaten with 3 straight wins to date, with a match remaining against PABC ‘A’ today at Mattegoda.
Seylan Bank’s spin twins, Gayan Sirisoma (4/22) and Kanchana Gunawardena (4/35) skittled out PABC ‘A’ for 142 runs in 41 Overs, and went on to win by 5 wickets with over 25 overs to spare, giving Seylan their first win in the tournament. Shehan Fernando (74 not out) and K. Vidura (50) hit splendid half-centuries to give Kanrich Finance ‘A’ a comfortable 6-wicket win over Commercial Bank ‘A’ with 25 overs remaining.
Ashan Peiris hit a quickfire 88 runs in 81 balls, inclusive of a six and 12 fours, to steer John Keells (JK) ‘B’ to a close 5-run win over Singer ‘A’.
Sasinda Perera gave good support to Peiris, as he remained unbeaten with a well compiled 52 not out.
Weekend Matches Results:
At Katunayake: Seylan Bank beat PABC ‘A’ by 5 wickets
PABC ‘A’ 142 (41) (T. Silva 47, Gayan Sirisoma 4/22, Kanchana Gunawardena 4/35)
Seylan Bank 143 for 5 (24.3) (Tharanga Paranavitana 43, Kanchana Gunawardena 31, H. Withana 22 not out, C. Sansaka 3/40)
At MCA: Kanrich Finance ‘A’ beat Commercial Bank ‘A’ by 6 wickets
Commercial Bank ‘A’ 195 (49.5) (S. Gunawardena 30 not out, L. Nanayakkara 41, P. Madushan 2/30, R. Anuradha 2/25, R. Laksiri 2/33)
Kanrich Finance ‘A’ 196 for 4 (24.4) (Shehan Fernando 74 not out, K. Vidura 50, D. Priyadarshana 49, P. de Silva 2/33)
At Surrey Village: LBF ‘A’ beat MAS Silueta ‘A’ by 63 runs
LBF ‘A’ 251 (36.1) (Chathuranga Kumara 116, Lakshan Rodrigo 40, Rumesh Silva 4/81, S. Samarasuriya 3/43)
MAS Silueta ‘A’ 188 (43.2) (K. Silva 55, S. Cooray 38, I. Nalaka 25, A. Emmanuel 26, T. Weerakoon 3/34, R. Weerasinghe 2/14, C. Sudaraka 2/37)
At Mattegoda: JK ‘B’ beat Singer Sri Lanka (SL) ‘A’ by 5 runs (match reduced to 32 overs due to wet pitch)
JK ‘B’ 195 for 5 (32) (Ashan Peiris 88, S.Perera 52 not out, S. Ushan 33, S. Dilshan 3/23)
Singer SL ‘A’ 190 (31.2) (C. Lakshan 63, P. Wickramarachchi 36, R. Priyan 22, H. Wickramasuriya 4/27, S. Wickramanayake 3/30)
The tournament will be continued this weekend with a card of 8 matches
Lacitha Liyanage in action - Pix by Ranjith Perera