MCA Cricket: Division 'C' weekly roundup

After 3 consecutive defeats, Stafford Motors (Staffords), tasted victory when they sank Colombo Dockyard Ltd (CDL) by a massive margin of 198 runs in the ongoing 7th Prestige Automobiles (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored 'BMW Hyundai' Trophy, MCA 'C' Division 50-Over League Tournament 2018, continued last week. 

The architect of the win was opening batsman Kavindu Munasinghe (105 in 103 balls with a six and 15 fours) who laid the foundation for the 'Honda Boys' with 3 productive partnerships – a 90-runs opening stand in 73 balls with Radeesh Kalpa (55), 56 runs in 60 balls for the 2nd wicket with Asantha Singappuli (21) and 61 runs in 65 balls for the 3rd wicket with Anjelo Eranga (45). 

Inspired by Munasinghe’s century, No. 6 bat Kalhara Peiris inflicted further damage on CDL, with a quickfire 71 not out in 34 balls, inclusive of 2 sixes and 10 fours, as Stafford Motors rode on the fast lane to reach 332 for 5 in 50 overs. 

Kalhara Peiris, opening the bowling, was on a roll, as he continued to torment CDL with a superb spell (8-2-24-4). 

Peiris, together with his pace partner Shanaka Sampath (8-1-16-3) ripped through the CDL sails, to bowl them out for 134 in 34.3 overs. 

An exciting double by Tharindu Lakshan (74 in 47 balls, with 12 fours and 10-2-28-5) lifted Nations Trust Bank (NTB) 'A' to a comprehensive 129-runs win over Morison PLC. 

A valiant unbeaten 89 runs in 92 balls with 10 boundaries, by Commercial Bank (ComBank) middle order batsman, Rahula Ekanayake went a begging, as Pyramid Wilmer (Pyramid) pipped ComBank by 4 wickets, with 11 balls to spare. 

The batsmen who took Pyramid over the line were opener, Asher Warnakulasuriya (51) and No.4 bat, Lasith Fernando (71 in 82 balls with 8 fours). 

The weekend’s best bowling performance came from Ruwan Fernando of Peoples Leasing and Finance (PLF) (10-3-29-6), who skittled out Commercial Leasing (ComLease) for a paltry 93 runs in 34.4 overs. 

PLF went home early scoring 99 for 5 in 21.3 overs. 

Unfortunately, the much awaited clash between the two unbeaten teams in Group 'A', Kanrich Finance (Kanrich) 'B' and Citizens Development Business (CDB) at the MCA grounds ended in a no result due to bad weather. 

The tournament will continue with a card of four matches. 

At MCA: CDB vs Kanrich 'B'- Rain, No Result 
Kanrich 'B' 195 (48) (R. Sanjeewa 41, K. Chamara 37, P. Maduwantha 39; Savin Gunasekera 6/30) 
CDB 18/2 (5) Rain halted play. 

At MCA: PABC Bank beat Softlogic Holdings (Softlogic) by 67 runs 
PABC 218 (48.2) (K. Prashan 68, T. Silva 35, T. Jayasuriya 33, B. Alwis 26; V. Kumar 2/40, S. Kurala 3/30, P. Vimukthi 2/32, S. Sellaperuma 2/32) 
Softlogic 151 (31.5) (V. Kumar 62, S. Korala 24; G. Raveena 2/34, B. Alwis 3/25, J. Adithya 2/6) 

At Thurstan: NTB 'A' beat Morison’s by 129 runs 
NTB 'A' 293 (49.4) (Tharinda Lakshan 74, Dulanja Silva 59, Malshan Fernando 52, T. Ariyawansa 28, A. Liyanage 25; H. Kularatne 2/34, G. Kahawita 3/73, K. Abeysinghe 2/55) 
Morison’s 164 (39.1) ( Kasun Silva 39, H. Madushanka 32, H. Kularatne 31, K. Abeysinghe 31; Tharinda Lakshan 5/28, M. Thanthirigoda 2/39) 

At Mattegoda: Staffords beat CDL by 198 runs 
Stafforda 332/5 (50) (Kavinda Munasinghe 105, Kalhara Peiris 71 n.o., R. Kalpa 55, A. Eranga 45, A. Singappuli 21; W.R. Kumara 2/41) 
CDL 134 (34.3) (W.R. Kumara 35, D.S. Kasun 24; Kalhara Peiris 4/24, S. Sampath 3/16) 

At Moratuwa: Pyramid beat ComBank by 4 wickets 
ComBank 227/8 (50) (P. Premaratne 32, C. Wanniarachchi 34, Rahula Ekanayake 89 not out, S. Lakmal 2/47, U. Atapattu 2/26) 
Pyramid Wilmer 228/6 (48.1) (, Lasith Fernando 71, A. Warnakulasuriya 51, T. Jeewantha 35, A. Dharmasena 20 n.o., B. Paul 22 n.o.; S. Fernando 3/37) 

At Moratuwa: PLF beat ComLease by 5 wickets 
ComLease 93 (34.4) (A. Perera 20; Ruwan Fernando 6/29, I. Perera 2/14) 
Peoples Leasing 99/5 (21.3) ( T. Rodrigo 20, S. Sandaruwan 28, W. Dissanayake 24 not out, Y. Nirmal 2/18)