MCA Cricket: Fair First win Over-40 Tournament

Mahesh de Alwis led Fair First Insurance scored a cake-walk victory over strong HNB 'A' to regain the Elephant House Lemonade Trophy (Average age 42.) in the Final of the MCA Over-40 'Sixes' 2018, concluded at the MCA Grounds. 

A record number of twenty one teams (highest ever) pooled into seven groups simultaneously competed at the MCA, Thurstan and Wesley grounds. 

In the Final, HNB batting first was restricted to 41 runs in five overs, as Captain Mahesh de Alwis put the brakes on them in the third over, giving away only four runs. 

Fair First Insurance shed little sweat on reaching their target in 3.3 overs without losing a wicket with Sanjaya Attanayake bashing 27 not out with two sixes and three fours, Mahesh de Alwis was (15) equally up to the task. 

At the completion of the Group Stage (21 matches) the seven group leaders advanced to the Final round: John Keells (2017 winner from Group 'A'), Singer Sri Lanka (from Group 'B'), Fair First Insurance (from Group 'D'), HNB 'A' (from Group 'E') and Sri Lankan Airlines (2017 runners-up from Group 'G'). 

Fair First Insurance in the Group Stage beat Sri Lanka Telecom and AMW Group. 

Fair First Insurance team comprised of Mahesh de Alwis, Sanjaya Attanayake, Thanura Gunatillake, Anil Fonseka, Priyankara Jayanama, Anjana Jayasuriya, Sanjay Siriwardena and Indika Seneviratne (Average age of team 45.3).

 Fair First Insurance although a considerably new entrant into the Mercantile Sporting Community, have already made their presence felt. 

They are the reigning Champions of the Mercantile Basketball Men’s 'A' Division, and Runners up in this year’s Mercantile Netball Tournament 'C' Division. 

In the last year’s Mercantile Rugby 7’s, Fair First Insurance making their debut finished as runners-up in the Shield Category. 

Final Round Match Results: 

Quarter-finals: Reduced to four ball overs 
Singer SL 51/0 (5) lost to Fair First Insurance 52/0 (4.4) 
HNB “A” 53/1 (5) beat Alliance Insurance 48/3 (5) 
Sri Lankan Airlines 62/5 (5) beat Airport & Aviation 51/4 (5) 

Semi-finals: reduced to three ball overs 
John Keells 18/2 (5) lost to Fair First Insurance19/0 (3.2)
HNB 'A' 76/1 (5) beat Sri Lankan Airlines 27/2 (5) 

Final: reduced to four ball overs 
HNB 'A' 41/2 (5) (Hemantha Boteju 11, Damitha Hunukumbura 15, Sanjaya Siriwardena 1/9) lost to Fair First Insurance 44/0 (3.3) (Mahesh de Alwis 15 not out, Sanjaya Attanayake 27 not out) 

Special Awards: 

Most number of sixes scored by a team: Allianz Insurance (14) Most Number of Sixes scored by an individual: BKSM Samarasekera from Airport & Aviation (13) 

Most Senior Player: Aruna de Silva from Sri Lanka Telecom (60 years) 

Best Bowler: Duminda Nanayakkara from Sri Lankan Airlines 

Best Batsman: Hemantha Boteju from HNB 'A' 

Man of the Final: Sanjaya Attanayake from Fair First Insurance