Rain spoils LB Finance title hopes
Sadeera Samarawickrema hits an unbeaten 97 for LB Finance but rains spoilt their chance of winning the title. Pic by Ranjith Perera
LB Finance and MAS Unichela were declared joint champions of the 27th Singer-MCA Premier 50 Over Knock Out Tournament after heavy rains halted play at the MCA Grounds yesterday.
Chasing a revised DL target of 279 in 37 overs MAS Unichela were 109 for the loss of six wickets in the 15th over when play was suspended due to bad weather.
Reduced to a 42-over match due to wet out-field MAS Unichela won the toss and put LB Finance into bat. The decision misfired as LB Finance openers Lakshan Rodrigo and Sadeera Samarawickrema put on a rapid 62 runs for the first wicket, with 50 runs coming off in just 25 balls.
Rodrigo smashed 45 off 19 before returning to the pavilion. Samarawickrema joined by Dhananjaya de Silva shared 101-run partnership for the third wicket as they brought the score to 181 before de Silva was dismissed for a well compiled 59 runs off 66 deliveries. Samarawickrema remained unbeaten on 97 when rain brought the play to a halt in the 37th over with the LB Finance total at 259 for 7.
Samarawickrema reached his half century off 57 balls, lent a good support to Rodrigo in their brisk first wicket partnership. Things slowed down after the exit of Rodrigo but experienced Dhananjaya de Silva and Samarawickrema made the fielders sweat, firing the ball to all corners of the field.
Chasing a victory target of 279 in 37 overs MAS batsmen failed to maintain the required run rate as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Chamara Silva (25 n.o) and Mahela Udawatta (22) made a valiant effort to accelerate the score as rain and bad light brought the game to a halt with MAS Unichela on 109 for 6 wickets off 15 overs.
Failing to bowl 20 overs in the MAS innings, LB Finance had to be satisfied as joint winners.
Individual awards were awarded based on the performances in the preliminary round to Kamindu Mendis (MAS Unichela – Best Batsman), Malinda Pushpakumara (Sampath Bank – Best Bowler) and Ramesh Mendis (Dimo – Man of the Tournament).
CHIEF SCORES:
LB Finance-257 for 7 (37) (Sadeera Samarawickrema 97*, Dhananjaya De Silva 59, Lakshan Rodrigo 45, Charith Asalanka 25, Lahiru Jayaratne 2 for 47, T.M. Dilshan 1 for 18)
MAS Unichela-109 for 6 (15 overs when rain and bad light stopped play) (Chamara Silva 25*, Mahela Udawatta 22, K. Dilshan 2 for 17, Shiran Fernando 2 for 44)