MCA Cricket: Division 'C' weekly roundup

Kanrich Finance (Kanrich) 'B' led by Rajitha Asellarachchi ended Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) unbeaten run of 29 matches in 3 MCA seasons, in a hard fought 23-runs win on D/L Method, while defending a moderate total, in the 7th Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, 'BMW-Hyundai' Trophy, MCA 'C' Division 50-Over League tournament 2018 at the MCA Grounds last weekend. 

CDB won the MCA 'E' Division in 2016, beating Lankem and won the 'D' Division in 2017, beating Kanrich 'B', and remained unbeaten in this tournament up to the semi-finals (29 wins on the trot in 3 MCA seasons).
 
Kanrich 'B' put into bat, got off to a shaky start, losing opener Ravindu Soysa and in form batsman Tharushan Iddamalgoda, at 22 and 26, both bagged by opening bowler Chamod Piyumal. 

Kanrich 'B' steadied their ship with a cautious 112-runs stand in 177 balls, for the 3rd wicket between Shashika Fernando (63 in 115 balls with 6 fours) and Kasun Chamara (69 in 90 balls with 2 sixes and 8 fours).

This was the only spark in the Kanrich 'B' innings, as CDB spinners, Savin Gunasekera (10-2-22-0) and Shaluka Silva (8.2-0-28-3) shackled the rest of the batsmen. 

There were 3 run-outs. 

With a healthy dose of extras (35), Kanrich 'B' finished with a moderate 213 in 49.2 overs. 

CDB too, got off to a bad start, losing Aravinda Akuragoda (7), Chathuranga Dikkumbura (3) and Asitha Perera (14) to be 41/3 in 12 overs. 

They got back on course with a slow 4th-wicket stand of 80 runs in 107 balls via Chenutha Wickramasinghe (51 in 64 balls with 1 six and 5 fours) and Dhanushka Dharmasiri (43 in 64 balls with 1 six and 2 fours).
 
Team Kanrich 'B' fielded like a pack of terriers, led by the brilliant Tharushan Iddamalgoda, which put CDB in a quandary. 

At 5.00pm, by the 33rd over, light was fading fast and the D/L Method came into contention, CDB 140/5, 5 runs ahead of the D/L par score. 

But with the fall of Dhanushka Dharmasiri- caught and bowled Sanith de Silva, at 143 and Shaluka Silva (7) at 157- ct. Sanith de Silva, b. Pramod Maduwantha, CDB fell behind the D/L Method by 14 runs (157/7 in 39 overs).
 
Play was suspended at 5.25pm (162/7 in 40 overs) and restarted at 5.40 pm. 

After 2 overs and 5 balls (179/9 in 42.5 overs), the match was called off at 5.55 pm with CDB short by 23 runs in the D/L Method. 

Special Awards 

Man of the Match- Kasun Chamara Ranasinghe (Kanrich 'B') 

Best Bowler and Man of the Series- Tharindu Lakshan Amarathunga [Nations Trust Bank 'A' (24 wkts for 226 runs and 285 runs with 1 century and one half-century)] 

Best Batsman: Lasith Fernando [Pyramid Wilmer (377 runs with 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries)] 

The above 3 awards were based on performances in the League and KO stages 
A plaque was presented to CDB for scoring 529/7 in 50 overs against Colombo Dockyard on February 25 at the MCA grounds. 

Kanrich 'B' 213 all out (49.2) (Kasun Chamara 69, Shashika Fernando 63; Chamod Piyumal 2/22, Aravinda Akurugoda 2/54, Shaluka Silva 3/28) 
CDB 179/9 (42.5) (when bad light halted play) (Chenutha Wickramasinghe 51, Dhanushka Dharmasiri 43; Udith Madushan 3/52, Tharushan Madushan 2/24)