MCA Cricket: MAS Active and Commercial Credit clash in Premier KO final

MAS Active Trading will be looking for a double when they take on Commercial Credit and Finance in the final of the 23rd Singer-MCA Premier League Knockout Tournament which will be played at the MCA ground on Saturday (31).   MAS Active has already pocketed the prestigious League title, dethroning the 2015 winner, MAS Intimates Unichela.   MAS Active Trading and MAS Intimates Unichela, finished with equal points at the completion of the Premier League on October 17, as the deciding match between the two teams came a cropper, due to fickle weather on even date at the MCA ground.   The much awaited clash between the two cricketing giants was well poised before the heavens opened with MAS Unichela being restricted to 165 runs in 37.1 overs and MAS Active in reply, making 78 for 3 in 15.2 overs at the halt.   Lasith Malinga, the new recruit at MAS Active was in a devastating form, bagging 6 for 36 in 8.1 overs.   Chamara Silva (75) and Lassana Perera (39) were the only batsmen from Unichela, who stood up to Malinga.   As the two teams had to be satisfied with two points each MAS Active piped MAS Unichela, having a superior net run – rate to clinch the league title, which they last won in 2013 for the first time and retained it in 2014.   So far in the Knockout tournament, MAS Active has not yet played a single game.   They received a bye into the semi-finals and walked to the final with a no result against Sampath Bank by virtue of being the league winner.   Commercial Credit, who withdrew from the league after playing two matches, due to five of their regulars being drafted to the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side that toured to New Zealand.   Commercial Credit now back with their full strength, reignited their campaign by eliminating the 2015 league winner, MAS Unichela by 3 wickets in the quarter-finals and went on to eliminate the 2015 knockout runners-up, John Keells by a whopping 142 runs.   Commercial Credit’s spin duo Suraj Randiv and Chathuranga de Silva are unplayable at the moment.   Their off spinner Chathuranga de Silva, the MCA Emerging Player in 2014 and the first player to receive the MCA Cricket Scholarship to the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy in South Australia, finished with brilliant figures of 10-1-34-7 against MAS Unichela and bagged 3 for 18 against John Keells.   Suraj Ranjeev hogged the limelight by scoring a gallant 73 not out in 80 balls, inclusive of two sixes and seven fours against Unichela and snapped up 4 for 8 against John Keells.   The two teams look well balanced on paper and it all leads to a no quarter asked, no quarter given ruthless final.   MAS Active Trading (from): Jehan Mubarak (Captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Udara Jayasundera, Kithruwan Vithanage, Sachithra Serasinghe, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Sameera Soyza, Angelo Perera, Andy Solomans, Charith Jayampathi, T.N. Sampath.   Commercial Credit and Finance (from): Upul Tharanga (Captain), Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Imesh Udayanga, Chathuranga de Silva, Vishwa Fernando, Malinda Pushpakumara, Lahiru Madushanka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Gamage, Kusal Mendis, Manoj Sarathchandra, Dilhan Cooray, Prasad Dias, Sanitha de Mel, Kavinda Silva.