MCA Cricket: Division 'C' Weekly Roundup

The MCA 'C' Division 50-Over League Tournament sponsored by Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd for the 7th year, entered its stage with Citizens Development Business (CDB), Nations Trust Bank (NTB) 'A', Kanrich Finance (Kanrich) 'B' and Pan Asia Bank (PABC) qualifying over the weekend. 

CDB scored a hard fought 3-wickets win over Softlogic Holdings (Softlogic). 

NTB 'A' romped to a comfortable 157-runs win over Peoples Leasing & Finance (PLF). Kanrich 'B' comprehensively beat Pyramid Wilmer (Pyramid) by 139 runs, while PABC notched up a convincing 72-runs win over Commercial Leasing & Finance (ComLease). 

CDB vs Softlogic: Savin Gunasekera (39 not out in 62 balls with 5 fours) played anchor man, being involved in 2 half-century stands- 55 runs for the 5th wicket with D. Dharmasiri (52 in 47 balls with 2 sixes and 5 fours) and 60 runs for the 6th wicket with Shaluka Silva (38), as the high riding, but complacent CDB managed a 3-wickets win over Softlogic. Earlier, Softlogic put up a respectable 201 in 48.4 overs, thanks to fighting innings by Shenal Athukorale (45) and V. Kumara (63) 

NTB 'A' vs PL&F: Tharindu Ariyawansa was in timely form with a patient unbeaten 100 in 91 balls, to pile up 289 for 8 in 50 overs. 

NTB 'A' bowlers Jayanga de Silva (3/11) Sadeesh Lakmal (3/25) and Upeka Jayawardena (3/41) ripped through the Financiers batsmen, to have them all out for 132 runs in 42.1 overs. 

Kanrich 'B' vs Pyramid: Kanrich 'B' batting first, got off to a disastrous start, losing 4 wickets for 9 runs, but managed to keep their heads through 2 century partnerships- 105 for the 5th wicket and 131 for the 7th wicket, via half-centurions, R. Asellarachchi (62), Sanith de Silva (61 not out) with M. Sakuranga (47) and K. Chamara (42), to finish on a challenging 256/8 in 50 overs. 

Inexperienced Pyramid playing in an MCA top Division for the first time, was all at sea, having little answer to C. Weeraratne (3/28), T. Iddamalgoda (3/39) and R. Maduwantha (2/1), to be all out for 117 runs under 30 overs.

PABC vs ComLease: A 95-runs stand for the 4th wicket between V. Deepal (99 in 93 balls, with 2 sixes and 8t fours) and L. Wickramasinghe (30), along with a solid half-century by Thusitha Silva (51) steered PABC to a convincing 72-runs win over ComLease. 

The Semifinals will be as follows: CDB vs NTB 'A' at BRC and Kanrich'B' vs PABC at MCA.

1st Quarterfinal at MCA: CDB beat Softlogic by 3 wickets 
Softlogic 201 (48.4) (V. Kumara 63, Shenal Korale 45, P. Sri Vimukthi 21, C. Kodituwakku 27; C. Piyumal 2/39, S. Silva 3/38, D. Dharmasiri 3/15) 
CDB 204/7 (35.2) (D. Dharmasiri 52, Savin Gunasekera 39 n.o., S. Silva 38, A. Arukgoda 32; Shenal Korale 4/37, C. Praneeth 2/60) 

2nd Quarterfinal at Maggona: NTB 'A' beat PL&F by 157 runs 
NTB 'A' 289/8 (50) (Tharindu Ariyawansa 100, Jayanga de Silva 51, Dulanjana Silva 35, Malshan Fernando 25; Isuru Perera 3/34, Dinesh Kaushalya 2/38) 
PL&F 132 (32.5) (Prishan Rodrigo 24, Dinith Kaushalya 24; Jayanga de Silva 3/11, Sadeesh Lakmal 3/25, Upeka Jayawardena 3/41) 

3rd Quarterfinal at Moors: Kanrich 'B' beat Pyramid by 139 runs 
Kanrich 'B' 256/8 (50) (R. Assellarachchi 62, S. de Silva 61 not out, M. Sakuranga 47, K. Chamara 42; A. Warnakulasuriya 3/46, S. Lakmal 2/19) 
Pyramid 117 (29.3) (A. Dharmasena 43, M. Silva 21; C. Weeraratne 3/28, T. Iddamalgoda 3/39, P. Madurantha 2/1)
 
4th Quarterfinal at Katunayake: PABC beat ComLease by 72 runs 
PABC 257/7 (50) (V. Deepal 99, T. Silva 51, K. Prashan 23, L. Wickramasinghe 30; S. Sandun 2/59, N. Deshapriya 2/50) 
ComLease 185 (42.1) (Y. Soyza 53, K. Kanchana 26, C. Perera 23; R. Thakshala 3/24, B. de Alwis 2/29, T. Silva 3/7)