MCA Cricket: Farveez Maharoof steers MAS Unichela to Premier T20 Championship

A sterling all round performance by Farveez Maharoof gave MAS Intimates Unichela a heart-stopping 3-wicket win, with two deliveries to spare over Sampath Bank, in the 23rd Singer-MCA Premier League T20, Tier ‘A’ final at the MCA ground on Sunday (7).

Unichela skipper, Mahela Udawatte, judiciously used Farveez Maharoof in three spells where he bagged the vital wickets of Hasantha Fernando, Rumesh Buddhika and top scorer, Sameen Kandanarachchi, to finish with three for 23 in four overs.

Sampath Bank sent into bat, put up a challenging 196 for 5 in 20 overs with opener, Sameen Kandanarachchi playing the anchor role with a splendid 71 runs in 42 balls, inclusive of four sixes and seven fours.

Kandanarachchi was associated in two fruitful partnerships - an opening stand of 48 runs in 20 balls with Primosh Perera (22), and a fourth wicket stand of 70 runs in 40 balls with skipper, Jeevan Mendis (30).

Thilina Kandamby, playing his last game for the Bankers, remained unbeaten on 42 in 25 balls, hitting three sixes and equal number of fours as he put the finishing touches to the Sampath Bank innings with an unbroken stand of 65 runs in 39 balls with Dilhara Lokuhettige (21 not out).

Unichela chasing 197 run to win in 20 overs, lost their skipper Mahela Udawatte and Sanka Ramesh early.

Farveez Maharoof (77 in 35 balls with 8 sixes and 4 fours) joined the remaining opener Nadeera Nawala (61 in 46 balls inclusive of a six and six fours) and took the game to another level as they put on 112 runs in 65 balls for the third wicket.

The exit of Maharoof at 157 in the 16th over gave the Bankers some fresh air.

The spectators got to the edge of their seats as Unichela needing 40 runs in 27 balls, lost two quick wickets, that of Thilaksha Malshan and Nadeera Nawala.

The game turned towards Unichela when Charitha Buddhika gave away 14 runs including two wides in the 18th over.

Rumesh Buddhika turned the tables for the Bankers, as he bagged two wicket for four runs in the penultimate over, leaving Unichela to get 10 runs in the final over, bowled by experienced, Hasantha Fernando, with Lassana Perera and Anuk Fernando at the wickets.

Fernando took a single in the first ball and gave it over to Lassana Perera to finish the game with three successive boundaries, as Unichela took charge of the brand new Singer Challenge trophy, winning by three wickets, in the fourth ball, thus retaining the title for the second successive year.

The match provided high octane entertainment with 24 sixes and 32 fours being scored in the process.

In the semi-finals played on Saturday (6) at the MCA ground Unichela beat DIMO by 39 runs before Sampath Bank received a walkover from Textured Jersey, who failed to turn up with their full team, due to unavoidable circumstances in the afternoon.

Rumesh Buddhika from Sampath Bank won the award for the best bowler while the best batsman’s and man-of-the-final awards went to Farveez Maharoof from Unichela.

Sampath Bank 196 for 7 wickets (20) (Sameen Kandanarachchi 71, Primosh Perera 22, Jeevan Mendis 30, Thilina Kandamby 42n.o., Dilhara Lokuhettige 21n.o., Farveez Maharoof 3/23, Chathura Peiris 2/32)

MAS Intimates Unichela 200 for 7 wickets (19.4) (Nadeera Nawala 61, Sanka Ramesh 16, Farveez Maharoof 77, Ramith Rambukwella 20, Lassana Perera 15n.o., Rumesh Buddhika 3/8, Charitha Buddhika 2/43)