MCA Cricket: Heshan Flexe beat Nippon Paint to win Division 'F'

Heshan Flexe Packaging, a relatively new to unit at Mercantile cricket, won their very first title, when they scored a fine 36-run win over Nippon Paint Lanka, to clinch the 1st MCA-Commercial Credit Division 'F' 25-over League Tournament 2016.

The tournament concluded at the MCA grounds last Saturday (30).

Heshan Flexe batted first after winning the toss, and got off to flying start, their openers, D. Harshana (27 in 13 balls) and R. Chandana (18 in 16 balls) putting on 30 – runs 20 balls.

One drop batsman, Gayan Prasanga chipped in with a solid 28 in 30 balls, as Heshan Flexe progressed to 90-4 in 11 overs.

The nucleus of the innings was the 52 runs stand in 35 balls for the 05th wicket between Tharindu Suraj (25) and Buddhika Prasad (41 in 20 balls with a six and 05 fours) which put them on a sound footing - 142 for 5 in 17 overs.

After a slump, Heshan Flexe tail wagged with Sapumal Senadeera (18) and Chathura Perera (15) putting on 30 runs for the ninth wicket, to end up with a challenging 198 in 25 overs.

Spinners, Naveen Kavikara (5-25-2) and skipper, Heshan de Silva (5-40-4) were pick of the bowlers for Nippon Paint.

Kavikara, thus took his seasonal figures to 33 overs 157 runs, 18 wickets, in eight matches.

Nippon Paint in their run chase never kept up to the required run rate of 7.96RPO.

The only redeeming factor was the second-wicket stand of 60 runs in 46 balls, between opener, Tharanga Indika (69 in 51 balls inclusive of 05 sixes and 02 fours) and No.3 batsman, Malith Cooray (36).

None of the other batsmen entered double figures, as slow medium pacer, Risith Upamal took full control, to skittle out Nippon Paint from 132 for 4 to 162 all out in 24.4 overs, thus finishing with fine figures of 4.4-1-20-5.

Heshan Flexe’s Risith Upamal, who was also responsible for the brilliant run-out of Nippon’s skipper Heshan de Silva, was named as the man-of-the-match.

Nippon Paint’s opening batsman cum wicketkeeper, Tharanga Indika, who took his seasonal tally to 567 runs in eight innings, inclusive of five half centuries and 155 not out, won the best batsman’s and the man-of-the-series awards.

The best bowler's award went to Buddhi Perera from HNB 'B' who captured 17 wickers in seven matches up to the semi-finals.

Heshan Flexe Packaging 198 all out (25) (D. Harshana 27, R. Chandana 18, G. Prasanga 28, T. Suraj 25, B. Prasad 41, S. Senanayake 18, Chathura Perera 15, Heshan de Silva 4/40, Dhaham Liyanage 3/57, Naveen Kavikara 2/25)

Nippon Paint 162 all out (24.4) (Tharanga Indika 69, Malith Cooray 36, Risith Upamal 5/20, N. Hasaral 2/29)