MCA Cricket: Softlogic beat AMW by 1 wicket in Division 'D' League

Softlogic Group (Softlogic) pulled off a dramatic 1-wicket win with 3 deliveries to spare, over AMW Group (AMW) in the 14th 'Elephant House Lemonade' Trophy MCA 'D' Division 40-Over League Tournament 2017, Quarterfinals played last weekend. 

Kanrich Finance 'B' (Kanrich), Citizens Development Business (CDB) and Expolanka Group (Expolanka) were the other 3 teams that advanced to the semi-finals.
 
AMW batting first put up a moderate 202 in 40-overs, riding on a fighting, run-a-ball 6th wicket stand of 92 runs between Sadik de Silva (58 in 52 balls, with 2 sixes and 6 fours) and Rajeewa Amal (36). 

Softlogic, struggling at 98 for 5 in 23 overs, was guided to safety by their No.8 batsman, Vinoth Kumar (40 n.o. in 28 balls, with 2 sixes and 4 fours). 

Vinoth Kumar, with the last man, faced a tense last over needing 10 runs to victory, and bravely took on opening bowler, Thushara Dhashana, hitting him for 4-2-4, to end the match with 3 balls to spare. 

Spinner Akila Dhananjaya snapped up 4 for 36 in 5.3 overs, as Kanrich crushed Heshan Flexe by 7 wickets. 

Opening batsman, Chathuranga Dikkumbura hit a belligerent 100 in 73 balls, as CDB piled up 320 for 9 in 40 overs thereby, going on to beat NDB by 93 runs. 

No.10 batsman, Pravin Dilanka was also severe on the bankers, remaining 67 not out in 34 balls, with 6 sixes and 5 fours. 

A brilliant half-century by Dilshan Peiris (56 in 75 balls) and a good spell by Madushan Fernando (8-1-42-4), helped Expolanka overcome David Pieris Motor Co. (DPMC) by 32-runs. 

Semi-finals: Softlogic Group vs Kanrich Finance 'B' at MCA and Citizens Development Business vs Expolanka Group at Thurstan College Grounds. 

Quarter-final Results 

At MCA: Softlogic beat AMW by 1 wicket 
AMW 202 all out (40) (S. de Silva 58, R. Amal 36, J. Richards 3/46, B. Gallage 2/41, Ranjan Ranatunga 2/28) 
Softlogic 203/9 (39.3) (Vinoth Kumar 40 n.o., R. Silva 2/38, D. Tharinda 3/35) 

At MCA: Kanrich 'B' beat Heshan Flexi Packaging by 7 wickets 
Heshan Flexi 106 all out (27.3) (T. Iddamalgoda 2/16, Akila Dhananjaya 4/36) 
Kanrich 'B' 108/3 (22.1) (T Iddamalgoda 36, M Sakuranga 30 n.o., S. Nadeesha 2/13) 

At Campbell Park: CDB beat NDB by 93 runs 
CDB 320/9 (40) (Chathuranga Dikkumbura 100, G. Perera 43, A. Akurugoda 44, P. Dilanka 67 not out, N. Fonseka 3/39, S. Dananjaya 3/62) 
NDB 227 all out (39.1) (D. Eddusuriya 67, N. Fonseka 47, P. Dilanka 2/22, A. Akurugoda 2/29, Chathuranga Dikkumbura 2/6) 

At Thurstan: Expolanka beat DPMC by 32 runs 
Expolanka 183/9 (40) (T. Roshan 42, L. de Silva 2/45, N. Channa 2/24, M. Fernando 4/42) 
DPMC 151 all out (34) (D. Pieris 56, M. Fernando 35, A. Vitharanarachchi 2/24, C. Jayasinghe 3/30, C. Fernando 2/6)