The Mercantile Division ‘A’ league cricket tournament got underway with three matches being played around the metropolis. The weather hampered the proceedings of most of the sports activities in the last three weeks but this time out the weather gods were kind.
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| Unichela opener Mahela Udawatte in fine form at Colts Grounds against ETI. (Pic by Amila Praboda) |
Apart from the match at Moratuwa, which got off to a late start, the other two matches started on time. The match at Moratuwa, due to its late start, was curtailed to 45 overs.
The tournament is contested by seven teams comprising of defending champions Sampath Bank, MAS Unichela, ETI, John Keells, MAS Active, HNB and Seylan Bank who were the knock-out champions last year.
From the three matches that were played yesterday MAS Unichlea, MAS Active and defending champions Sampath Bank began their campaign on a winning note.
At Colts ground Mahela Udawatte and Kusal Janith stole the limelight in the morning session where MAS Unichela was meeting ETI with the pair cracking half tons thus helping Unichela to a score of 278 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs.
Mahela made 69 that included four boundaries and three sixes. Kusal at the other end scored 67, an inning which comprised three boundaries and five towering sixes. The duo gave the side a flying start by putting on 115 runs in even time.
The evening session saw left arm pacie and former Sri Lanka Under 19 skipper Chathura Peiris putting the finishing touch with impressive figures of 4 for 35 to restrict ETI to 228 to give his side a comfortable 50 runs victory.
MAS Active made a grand recovery after being badly placed at 189 for 7 against John Keells at De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa.
The recovery came through a 77 runs stand for the eighth wicket between Sachithra Senanayake who made an unbeaten 56 with two boundaries and four sixes and Roy Silva (17) helping them to post a formidable 271 for 8.
John Keells possessing some big names in their side were way behind the target of 272. Despite a knock of 55 coming from Ishan Muthaliph they were struggling on 226 for 7 in the 40th over before bad light forced the umpires to call off the match. This gave a 19 run win on the D/L method to MAS Active.
At the FTZ ground in Katunayake Samin Kandanaarchchi guided defending champions Sampath Bank with a fine 87 enabling his side to make a formidable 264 for 9 against HNB.Samin’s knock included eight boundaries and a six and he was associated in a 97 runs stand for the second wicket with Shantha Kalavitigoda who contributed 47.
HNB in their run chase fell into deep trouble and slid to 184 for 9 in the 41st over. A fighting partnership of 70 runs in only 55 balls between Sujeewa de Silva (55 n.o.) and Chamika Rodrigo was insufficient to prevent Sampath Bank from securing a close ten run win.
Three matches are down for decision today. They are: Seylan Bank vs HNB at Colts ground, Sampath Bank vs John Keells at Moratuwa and MAS Unichela vs MAS Active at FTZ ground in Katunayake.
At Colts grounds
MAS Unichela 278 for 9 in 50 overs (Mahela Udawatte 69, Kusal Janith 67, Gayan Wijekoon 31, Farveez Maharoof 23, Malinga Bandara 21: Charith Jayampathi 3 for 41, Ishan Ratnayake 2 for 57)
ETI 228 in 46.3 overs (Indika de Saram 55, Harsha Cooray 50, Demintha Dahanayake 22, Eranga Gangoda 21: Chathura Peiris 4 for 35, Malinga Bandara 3 for 47)
At Moratuwa
MAS Active 271 for 9 in 45 overs (Kithruwan Withanage 61, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 38, Sameera Soysa 36, Royal Silva 17, Sachitra Senanayake 56 n.o.: Janaka Gunaratne 3 for 40, Thisara Perera 2 for 40, Nilanka Premaratne 2 for 68)
John Keells 226 for 7 in 40 overs (Ishan Muthaliph 51, Sandun Dias 44, Malintha Gajanayake 37, Janaka Gunaratne 34, Akshu Fernando 22, Thisara Perera 20: Kaushal Lokuarachchi 3 for 22, Sachitra Senanayake 2 for 54)
At FTZ Katunayake
Sampath Bank 264 for 9 in 50 overs (Samin Kandanaarchchi 87, Shantha Kalavitigoda 47, Thilina Kandambi 36, Chamara de Soysa 15: Sajeewa Weerakoon 4 for 45, Saman Jayantha 2 for 43)
HNB 254 for 9 in 50 overs (Hemantha Boteju 35, Nimesh Perera 34, Chinthaka Jayasinghe 26, Sujeewa de Silva 56 n.o., Chamika Rodrigo 25 n.o.: Suwanji Madanayake 2 for 29, Thasitha Chamara 2 for 39, Nuwan Perera 2 for 63) | 
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