MCA Cricket: Division 'E' 25-over League on its way

The second longest running MCA sponsorship, the 16th David Pieris Group of Companies powered, MCA 'E' division 25 over League Tournament 2018 contested for the glittering 'DPGC' Challenge Trophy, will get underway this weekend. 

Earlier, this tournament was played as a 30-over-a-side tournament with two half day matches simultaneously taking place per day. 

The decision for the reduction of overs from 30 to 25, was taken by the MCA Tournament Committee who was in the opinion that squeezing 120 overs from 8.45am to 6.00pm, with a short 30 minutes break between matches, was quite an audacious task for the Player Control Team (PTC)The new match timings gives ample comfort time for the Match Referee, Umpires and the scorers (PCT) between the morning and afternoon matches. 

The DPGC Challenge Trophy is quite large and heavy and the following 24 teams in four groups are vying for it.

Group 'A': Astron Lanka, Amana Bank, Regnis Lanka, Emerchemi NB,AIA Insurance, Dialog Axiata 'A' and LOLC 

Group 'B': Asia Asset Finance, Commercial Bank 'B', UB Finance, HSBC 'A'”, Brandix Essentials 'A', McLarans Group, and Trelleborg Lanka 

Group 'C': DFCC Bank, Assetline Leasing, MAS Active Trading 'A', Ansell Lanka, Eagle Logistics, Hirdaramani Group and Melwire Rolling 

Group 'D': Nawaloka Group, Prym Intimates, Maliban Biscuits, MAS Silueta 'B', CW Mackie ,Ceylon Tobacco and Virtusa Lanka 

Melwire Rolling pooled into Group 'C' is making their debut in MCA Cricket. 

The group stage of the tournament, consisting 84 half day matches will be staged from 17th March to 5th May 2018. 

For the first time, the full tournament will be covered by a MCA appointed Match Referee and the D/L method will be used for all matches in order to arrive at a result for interrupted matches. 

The four DPGC special awards on offer are: Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Man of the Series and Man of the Final. 

The league stage will be followed by the Knockout stage, consisting the Quarter-finals (May 12), the S. Finals (May 19) and the Final (May 26). 

All this was revealed at the official sponsorship handing over ceremony held on Thursday (15) at the MCA Fine Dining Restaurant 'The Pitch' at 6.30pm.