Mercantile T20 tourney put off
The 3rd phase of the 27th Singer-MCA Premier League 2020, the T20 tournament was postponed indefinitely till the prevailing weather conditions improve.
The tournament was earlier scheduled to get underway last week, but the Tournament Committee was compelled to postpone due to prevailing rainy weather.
MCA cricket in the top two divisions were hampered by rain, resulting no decisions in many league and knock out matches. Last week the finals of the knock out tournament between LB Finance and MAS Unichela was effected by rain resulting a no decision with both teams declared joint champions. Earlier MCA ‘B’ Division finals between HNB and MAS Silueta too ended in a no decision as two teams shared the championship title.
The adverse weather conditions have also resulted the ground staffs for finding it difficult to get their grounds ready for match standard. Facilities such as the pitch, the out field and dressing rooms have to be in good conditions to stage a Premier League match according to club officials and ground staff.
For the first time the tournament was to be conducted on league basis with the seven participating teams pooled into two groups as below.
Pool ‘A’ – LB Finance, MAS Unichela, John Keells and Hayleys
Pool ‘B’ – Dimo, Sampath Bank and Sri Lanka Cricket emerging Team
After the round robin stage, the first two teams of each group will play Kris-Cross in the semi finals.
In the previous edition, which was conducted on a knock-out basis, MAS Unichela defeated John Keells by one wicket in the finals played on November 3 2018 at the MCA grounds.
LB Finance emerged champions in the ‘league’ and shared the Knock-Out title with MAS Unichela.