Heshan Flexe ‘A’ trounce Sapper CC to clinch title
Heshan Flexe Packaging ‘A’ having mastered the new format of Cricket, scored a comprehensive 130-runs win over Sapper CC, Mattegoda, in the Last Man Stands (LMS) Spring Season T+20 Cricket Championships 2017 final at Thurstan College Grounds last Sunday. Due to the morning’s downpour, the semifinals scheduled for 9 am an 11 am were rescheduled for 12.30 pm and reduced to 10 overs a side games.
Both Semis were absolute thrillers, Heshan Flexe ‘A’ pulling off a 3-runs win over Stafford Motors and Sapper CC nudging the Colombo Bens by 2 wickets, with 3 balls to spare.
In the 1st semifinal, Stafford Motors chasing 87 runs in 10 overs, needed 6 runs in the last over (5 balls), as star all-rounder Chalitha Chamod kept his nerve and bowled a superb last over, giving away only 3 runs, thus giving Heshan Flexe ‘A’ a heart-stopping 3-runs win. Earlier, Chalitha Chamod anchored the Heshan Flexe ‘A” innings with a belligerent 46 runs in 22 balls, including 4 sixes and a boundary. Sapper SC, chasing a moderate 70 runs to win in 10 overs against the Colombo Bens, in the second semifinal, made heavy weather of their target. Came the last over, SCC needed 8 runs in 5 balls. Ashan Abeykoon (16 not out) finished the game with a 2 and a 6 in the first two deliveries, as he sealed victory for them by 2 wickets with 3 balls to spare
In the final, Heshan Flexe ‘A’ having made their great escape in their semifinal, got into top gear in the final. Chalitha Chamod (26) and Asela Jayasinghe (22) gave them an excellent start, while Nimesh Perera (59 in 34 balls, 1 six and 5 fours) and Buddhika Prasad (36) continued the onslaught to finish the 20 overs on a high 187 for 7.
A severely demoralised Sapper CC threw in the towel and were shot out for 57 runs in 11 overs.
Heshan Flexe ‘A’ took home the glittering LMS Trophy plus a cash award of Rs 300,000, while Sapper CC received a cash prize of Rs 150,000.
LMS now having staged 3 tournaments in Sri Lanka since October 2016, have called for entries for their Summer tournament to be held in August 2017. Entries close on July 7 with SL League Manager, Yasura Warnakulasuriya (Mobile- 0770 514 549).
Awards were presented by Nimal Boteju, Assignment Secretary/SLCUA, Bandula Vaz, Treasurer, SL Schools Cricket Association, Rasika Chandana, Proprietor, Heshan Flexe Packaging (Pvt) Ltd., Kalhan Alwis, Director/CEO, Nawaloka Group, (Guest-of-Honour) and Ajantha Winslow Mendis (Chief Guest).
Semifinal I:
- Heshan Flexe Packaging ‘A’ beat Stafford Motor Co. by 3 runs
Heshan Flexe ‘A’ 86/3 (10 overs) (Chalitha Chamod 46, Asela Jayasinghe 29 n.o.; Amila Mendis 1/22, Dhammika Kumara 1/9)
Stafford Motors 83/3 (10 overs) (Radeesh Kalpa Peiris 48, Jayanga Peiris 29; Risith Upamal 3/13)
Semifinal II:
- Sapper CC beat Colombo Bens by 2 wickets
Colombo Bens 69/5 (10 overs) (Vinodh Perera 20, Adeesha Nanayakkara 17; Samankumara 1/14, Ruwan Ranatunga 1/8, Nuwan Gunawardena 1/14)
Sapper CC 70/6 (9.2 overs) (Ashen Abeykoon 16 n.o., Kasun Mahela 12; Nimesh Fernando 2/30, Yasas Alwis 2/10)
Final:
- Heshan Flexe Packaging ‘A’ beat Sapper SC by 130 runs
- Heshan Flexe ‘A’ 187/7 (20 overs) (Nimesh Perera 59, Buddhika Prasad 36, Chalitha Chamod 26, Asela Jayasinghe 22, Chameera Dissanayake 17 .o.; Ashen Abeykoon 2/25, Nuwan Gunawardena 2/30)
Sapper SC 57/8 (11 overs) (Nuwan Gunawardena 20; Risith Upamal 2/6)
- Best Bowler: Ashen Abeykoon (Sapper CC)
- Best Batsman and Player of the Final: Nimesh Perera (Heshan Flexe ‘A’).