Skipper Chamara Silva’s excellent 99 off 69 helped MAS Intimates Unichela win the 24th Singer-MCA Knockout Tournament defeating Commercial Credit and Finance PLC by 23 runs (D/L method) in the rain-marred final played at MCA grounds on Sunday.

With this win, MAS Unichela have now secured both the league and knockout championships this year.

Earlier in the day, the start of play was delayed due to overnight showers and the umpires, Chaminda Hathusinghe and Raveendra Wimalasiri finally got the play going at around 1.00pm and the match was reduced to a 32-over affair.

Commercial Credit skipper Upul Tharanga won the toss and elected to field first. Fast-bowler Kavinda Silva struck early dismissing Rashmika Opatha and Mahela Udawatte cheaply inside the first powerplay.

Wickets continued to tumble despite opening batsman Ramith Rambukwella scoring 31 off 25 balls but he was clean bowled by Suraj Randiv and MAS Unichela were 59 for 5 at one stage. Skipper Silva played a gem of an innings which also involved an 84-run stand for the 6th wicket with Chathura Peiris.

Young Thilaksha Sumanasiri slammed 27 useful runs in 18 deliveries but it was Chamara Silva’s show which took the spotlight at Wijerama Mawatha. MAS Unichela scored 117 runs in the last 10 overs as they ended on 246 for 9 in 32 overs. Silva smashed 6 sixes and 6 fours but was unfortunately caught at third-man off Lahiru Madushanka in the penultimate ball of the innings.

Chasing a tough target of 247 runs to win, Dilhan Cooray fell for just 9 runs but Upul Tharanga and Ashan Priyanjan kept the chase alive scoring 46 and 22 respectively. Tharanga’s 45-ball 46 came to an end when he was caught short while backing up too much from the non-strikers’ end.

Chamara Kapugedara blasted3 sixes and 4 fours during a stunning 27-ball 50 but his effort was not enough as MAS Unichela kept their nerve to stay ahead in the D/L method. As the light was fading, the umpires called it a day with more than 9 overs to spare when the Commercial Credit score was 159 for 6.

Best Batsman – Danushka Gunathilaka (MAS Unichela)
Best Bowler – Vikum Sanjaya (John Keells)
Player of the Tournament (League) – Danushka Gunathilaka (MAS Unichela)
Man of the Final (Knockout) – Chamara Silva (MAS Unichela)

MCA Knockout Trophy

Replay: MCA Final