LB Finance and Mobitel make a winning start

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Mercantile Cricket

LB Finance began their Mercantile campaign beating Seylan bank by 4 wickets. Furthermore Mobitel beat Commercial Bank by an enormous 161 runs.

LB Finance vs Seylan Bank

Seylan Bank won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny morning at the FTZ grounds in Katunayake. Seylan Bank were made to rue their decision as off-spinner Rajeewa Weerasinghe was on fire with the ball picking three wickets for just 37 runs from his quota of 10 overs along with fast-bowler Shiran Fernando’s (2/35) and left-arm spinner Charith Sudaraka’s (2/17) as they restricted Seylan Bank to a low 159 in just 38.2 overs.

Kanchana Gunawardana top scored for Seylan Bank with 44 as former Sri Lankan batsman Tharanga Paranavithana managed 25 for Seylan Bank.

In reply LB Finance did not find going easy as they found themselves in a spot of bother at 86 for 5. Chathuranga Kumara  along with fellow school-mate Rajeewa Weerasinghe secured a 4-wicket win for LB Finance.

Left-arm spinner Gayan Sirisoma was the lone warrior for Seylan Bank with the ball as he picked all the wickets to fall for LB Finanace bagging 6 for 26.

Brief Scores:

Seylan Bank – 159 all out in 38.2 overs: Kanchana Gunawardana 44, Tharanga Paranavithana 25, Rajeewa Weerasinghe 3/37, Charith Sudaraka 2/17, Shiran Fernando 2/35.

LB Finance – 161/6 in 41 overs: Chathuranga Kumara 42*, Lakshan Rodrigo 30, Ian Daniel 19, Rajeewa Weerasinghe 17*, Gayan Sirisoma 6/26.

Result: LB Finance won by 4 wickets.


Mobitel vs Commercial Bank

Mobitel was at their flying best beating Commercial bank by a staggering 161 runs. Batting first Mobitel managed an astounding 264 for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs. Right-handed Koshan Jayawickrama scored an attractive 53 while former Trinitian Lakshan Jayasinghe managed an unbeaten 44.

Achala Ranasinghe picked up 3 for 46 as Sachinda Gunawardana bagged 2 for 37 for Commercial Bank.

Sloppy batting by Commercial Bank coupled with scintillating bowling by Mobitel helped the latter to a massive 161 run win.

Anurudda Rajapakse (30) and Achala Ranasinghe (29) was not enough as Mobitel bowled out Commercial Bank for a mere 103 in 28.4 overs. Mohommad Shiraz was the pick of the bowlers for Mobitel with 3 for 19. Left-arm spinner Damith Rajapaksha (3/29) and Koshan Jayawickrma (2/12) managed 5 wickets between the duo.

Brief Scores:

Mobitel – 264 for 8 in 50 overs: Koshan Jayawickrama 53, Pasindu Isira 32, Lakshan Jayasinghe 44*, Lahiru Jayakody 29, Ron Chandragupta 27, Achala Ranasinghe 3/46, Sachinda Gunawardana 2/37.

Commercial Bank – 103 all out in 28.4 overs: Anurudda Rajapakse 30, Achala Ranasinghe 29, Mohommad Shiraz 3/19, Damith Rajapaksha 3/29, Koshan Jayawickrma 2/12

Result: Mobitel won by 161 runs.