Four matches in the 2nd Fair & Lovely Men Mercantile ‘B’ Division Tournament 2019 were conducted on Saturday (20th October).
Ashen Fernando’s brilliant century aids HNB victory
The Surrey Village Cricket grounds in Maggona hosted an interesting fixture between Hatton National Bank and Commercial Credit. HNB were off to the a fantastic start with openers Deshan Dias and Ashen Fernando playing some text book cricket shots to take HNB to 120 in the 22nd over.
Dias was dismissed soon for a well-made 53 but Fernando continued his prolific form with the bat scoring a well-constructed hundred. Fernando’s century came in at a crucial time as HNB posted a mammoth 309 for the loss of 7 wickets with Sajeewa Weerakoon and Vimukthi Perera finishing things off in fine fashion, unbeaten on 22 and 31 respectively. Ashen Fernando top scored with 108. In the bowling department Suranga Salinda and Praneeth Wijesena picked up two wickets each for Commercial Credit.
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Chasing 310 was always a tough ask with 6 runs required an over, Commercial Credit lost an early wicket at 28 in the 5th over of the innings. The able hands of Sammika Perera and Akil Inham helped Commercial Credit consolidate themselves to 102 for the loss of 2 wickets in the 19th over with Inham not out on 51. Inham was dismissed for 71 as Commercial Credit was in a spot of bother at 176 for the loss of 6 wickets in the 30th over with Adheesha Thilanchana not out on 33. Thilanchana was dismissed for 45 as Commercial Credit was bowled out in the 40th over. Sajeewa Weerakoon picking 4 wickets for 48 runs
Brief scores
Hatton National Bank (A) 309/7 (50)
Deshan Dias 53, Ashen Fernando 108, Sajeewa Weerakoon 22*, Vimukthi Perera 31*, Suranga Salinda 2/56, Praneeth Wijesena 2/47
Vs
Commercial Credit (B) 222 (39.2)
Akil Inham 71, Adheesha Thilanchana 45, Sammika Perera 37, Sajeewa Weerakoon 4/48
HNB WON BY 87 RUNS
Kanrich Finance hold on to a nail biting win
In another exciting low scoring match at the BRC grounds Kanrich Finance (B) registered a narrow win over John Keells Holdings (B). After winning Kanrich Finance put John Keells into bat first as the Kanrich bowlers stuck early to dismiss the John Keells top order. By the 16th over John Keells was 44 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Ashen Silva was the only John Keells batsman who was able to get some runs off the bat but a persistent bowling effort by Pramod Madhuwantha and Chanaka Devinda restricted John Keells to 89 for the loss of 8 wickets by the 33rd over.
The Kanrich bowlers were able to bundle up the John Keells batting for 104 in the 38th over. Pramod Madhuwantha picked up 3 wickets for 26 runs whilst Chanaka Devinda and Poorna Charuka picked up two wickets each for Kanrich Finance. In the batting department Ashen Silva’s 29 remained the highest score for John Keells holdings.
Chasing a target of 105 Kanrich Finance was no better as Ashen Silva bought his all round skills in to the game picking up four important wickets. A persistent knock by Tharusha Iddamalgoda held the Kanrich innings together thanks to some assistance from Navindu Nirmal to take Kanrich Finance over the line in the 31st over with one wicket in hand. Tharusha Iddamalgoda top scored with 66 while Ashen Silva picked up 4 wickets for 9 runs. This is John Keells Holdings second consecutive loss in the tournament.
Brief scores
John Keells Holdings (B) 104 (38)
Ashen Silva 29, Pramod Madhuwantha 3/26, Chanaka Devinda 2/28, Poorna Charuka 2/30
Vs
Kanrich Finance (B) 105/9 (30.3)
Tharusha Iddamalgoda 66, Navindu Nirmal 23, Ashen Silva 4/09, Tharindu Rathnayaka 3/40
KANRICH WON BY 1 WICKET
Dilasri and Khan take CDB across the line
The rain hit encounter at the Mercantile Cricket Association between Citizen’s Development Bank and Singer Sri Lanka reduced the match to 20 over per side. Being put into bat first CDB was off to a blistering start as Shihan Dilasri and Sachin Jayawardena took CDB to 96 for the loss of one wicket by the 12th over. Dilasri was not out on 49 as the Singer bowlers struggled to restrict the flow of runs.
CDB posted a competitive score of 165 thanks to a late blitz by Hashan Wanasekera. Chasing 165 Singer Sri Lanka never looked confident in their approach as Imran Khan continued his brilliant bowling performance picking 3 wickets for 26 runs. Singer Sri Lanka was bowled out in the 19th over for 126. Vimukthi Kulathunga top scored for Singer with 40.
Brief scores
Citizen Development Business (CDB) 165/6 (20)
Shihan Dilasri 52, Sachin Jayawardana 44, Hashan Wanasekara 46*, Pasindu Dilshan 4/25, Chathura Lakshan 2/22
Vs
Singer Sri Lanka (A) 126 (18.4)
Vimukthi Kulatunga 40, Imran Khan 3/26, Shaluka Silva 4/26, Ravichandra Kumar 2/24
CDB WON BY 39 RUNS
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Expolanka continue dominance by beating Unilever
Back in Katunayake Expolanka played Unilever Sri Lanka in anther MCA Tier B tournament. Batting first Expolanka was welcomed to the crease with some exceptional bowling by Gihan de Soysa as Expolanka stumbled at 97 for the loss of 6 wickets by the 22nd over. Ayana Sirirwardana was a lone ranger in the Expolanka batting line on 24 as the rest of his teammates struggled with the bat.
Siriwardana’s spirited performance single handedly lifted Expolanka to 149 for the loss of 7 wickets by the 39th over thanks to some valiant support given by Dilan Jayalath. Siriwardena was dismissed for 66 as Explolanka were bowled out for 184 in the 45th over. Gihan de Soysa ended up with figures of 3 for 22
Chasing a target of 185 Unilever were in a spot of bother at 35 for the loss of 2 wickets by the 12th over. Unilever further lost two more wickets by the 25th over with the score at 94 with Sachindu Colambage and Sachin Fernando on 31 and 28.
Colambage’s innings came to an end shortly on 42 as Expolanka had another sniff in the game at 146 for 6 in the 38th over. Sachin Fernando’s innings had to be special from this point onward, as he was Unilever’s final hope. Moments later Fernando was dismissed for 50 as Expo Lanka ripped through the final four wickets to register a 6 run win.
Brief scores
Expolanka Holdings (A) 184 (44.5)
Dilan Jayalath 34, Ayana Siriwardana 66, Sachith Lakshan 26, Gihan de Soyza 3/22, Rasika Prasad 2/24
Vs
Unilever Sri Lanka 178 (45.2)
Sachindu Colambage 42, Sachin Fernando 50, Hashan Hewanayaka 2/39, Sachith Lakshan 2/16, Neranjana Wanniarachchi 2/25
EXPOLANKA WON BY 6 RUNS
