Sri Lanka players Dilruwan Perera and Chamara Silva combined with fine bowling and batting performances to guide MAS Unichela to the final of the MCA Centenary Invitation T20 Super tournament.
Dilruwan’s match figures of 5 for 21 and Chamara’s 27 balls knock of 54 helped MAS Unichela to record a convincing five wicket win over giant killers Edirisinghe Trust Investments (ETI) in the first semi-final played in the morning session at the Colts.
Chamara Silva in full cry at the Colts ground yesterday. - Picture by Ranjith Perera. |
It was an unfortunate defeat for ETI who till then remained unbeaten and faltered when it mattered most. However ETI, taking first lease of the wicket, made a challenging 145 with a top score of 66 coming from Udara Jayasundara which had two boundaries and five towering sixes.
ETI despite having MAS Unichela under control in the early stages of their innings again faltered and let loose their grip. They had MAS Unichela struggling on 66 for 4 before Chamara Silva and Gayan Wijekoon put in a valuable 63 runs stand for the fifth wicket paving the way for an easy win.
SL Development U20 upset HNB
Right arm off spinner and former Sri Lanka youth player Akshu Fernando made the strong HNB side eat humble pie as his four wicket haul helped the Sri Lanka Development U20 side to record an upset 19 runs win in the second semi-final of the same tournament played in the evening session at Colts.
Akshu returned impressive figures of 4 for 26 to restrict HNB chasing 149 runs for victory to a score of 129. Shehan Jayasuriya and Shihan Kamileen support Akshu with the pair sharing four wickets between them.
The Sri Lanka Development U20 side comprising of youngsters but promising cricketers who left their alma mater recently, took first lease of the wicket, made a challenging 148 runs and then fought back to defend their score by restricting the strong HNB side to 129.
They will now meet MAS Unichela in the final scheduled to be played from 2.00 p.m. onwards today. This game will be preceded with the third place play off between ETI and HNB due to be played at 10.00 a.m.
ETI 145 in 19.5 overs (Udara Jayasundara 66, Indika de Saram 22: Dilruwan Perera 5 for 21, Farveez Maharoof 2 for 25, Malinga Bandara 2 for 30)
MAS Unichela 146 for 5 in 16.4 overs (Chamara Silva 54, Kusal Janith 23, Dilruwan Perera 21, Gayan Wijekoon 26 n.o.: Charith Bandara 2 for 20)
Sri Lanka Development U20 148 in 19.5 overs (Yasoda Lanka 40, Ramith Rambukwella 28, Chathuranga Kumara 21, Akshu Fernando 17: Sajeewa Weerakoon 3 for 23, Kosala Kulasekera 3 for 24, Saman Jayantha 2 for 20)
HNB 129 in 19 overs (Saman Jayantha 36, Kosala Kulasekera 30, Madawa Warnapura 219: Akshu Fernando 4 for 26, Shihan Kammileen 2 for 16, Shehan Jayasuriya 2 for 22) |
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