Commercial Credit out to dethrone MAS Unichela for maiden title
View(s):By Lakshman Ranasinghe
Singer-MCA Premier League 2017 KnockOut Final
Senior Sri Lanka Cricketers, Chamara Silva (MAS Intimates Unichela) and Upul Tharanga (Commercial Credit & Finance PLC) will use their experience and skills to their maximum, when they lead their teams in the 24th Singer-MCA Premier League 2017 – KnockOut (KO) Tournament Final, today at the MCA Grounds, commencing 10 am.
Both Captains got into top gear with sterling performances in the semi-finals last week. Chamara Silva hit a sparkling 71 (1 six, 10 fours) vs DIMO, while Upul Tharanga stroked a match-winning 52 vs John Keells.
MAS Unichela first won the KO in 2012 under Malin Silva. Then regained the title in 2014 and retained it in 2015, both under Chamara Silva.
Commercial Credit has yet to win the title but, came quite close to it in the previous tournament, when they went down fighting by 1 wicket to MAS Active. The final, reduced to 22 overs, due to soggy ground conditions, was played on October 31, 2015. Commercial Credit scored 128 in 19 overs and MAS Active replied with 133 for 9 in 18.4 overs.
The Starts on Parade
MAS Unichela: T.M. Dilshan, Mahela Udawatte, Dhanushka Gunatillake, Dilruwan Perera and their new kid in the block, Rashmika Opatha
Commercial Credit: Suraj Randeev, Ashan Priyanjan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chathuranga de Silva and Imesh Udayanga.
Unichela’s belligerent, opening batsman, Mahela Udawatte sounded a warning with his cracking 134 in 127 balls, inclusive of 2 sixes and 15 fours vs, DIMO in the semi-finals. Chathuranga de Silva- 2015 MCA Premier League Emerging Player, who won the MCA Scholarship to the Darren Lehman Coaching Academy in South Australia- is brimming with confidence at the moment. His match-winning double- 66 runs and 5 for 26- vs Textured Jersey, is ample testimony to come up with a match-winning performance in the final.
If Chamara Kapugedera, the top individual scorer in the league (170 in 121 balls with 10 sixes and 12 fours) shines for Commercial Credit, the game is well poised to go down to the wire.
Match Referee cum Adjudicator is Basil Perera.
MAS Unichela: Chamara Silva (Captain), T.M. Dilshan, Dhanushka Gunatillaka (WK), Mahela Udawatta , Farvees Maharoof, Dilruwan Perera, Malinga Bandara, Rashmika Opatha, Thilaksha Sumanasiri, Ishara Amarasinghe, Lahiru Jayaratne, Lassana Perera, Chathura Peiris, Ramith Rambukwella, Sahan Nanayakkara.
Commercial Credit: Upul Tharanga (Captain-WK), Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Dilhan Cooray, Ashan Priyanjan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chathuranga de Silva, Imesh Udayanga, Malinda Pushpakumara, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanidu Hasaranga, Kavinda Silva, Shrimal Mendis, Lahiru Gamage.