3DH International Group win their maiden MCA cricket title as they beat Fairfirst Insurance by 3 wickets in the final of MCA “E” Division 30 over league tournament 2022 worked off at MCA Grounds.
A courageous, determined, 76 runs in 72 balls, inclusive of 02 sixes & 08 fours, by Captain, Milan Abeysekera, steered 3DH International Group to their first MCA cricket title, as they nudged Fairfirst Insurance by 03 wickets, with 05 deliveries to spare, in the 19th David Pieris Group of Companies sponsored, “DPGC” Challenge Trophy – Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA), “E” division 30 Over League Tournament 2022, Final, concluded on Saturday, 12th February at the MCA Grounds.
Fairfirst Insurance sent into bat, was tied down by 3DH veteran left arm off spinner, Denam Cramer (06-27-02) and right arm off spinner, Kolitha Nayanananda (06-27-03) as they failed to finish their quota of overs being all out for 180 runs in 28.1 overs ; the inning was anchored by their opening batsman, Inesh Fernando who scored a responsible 72 runs in 51 balls, inclusive of 03 sixes and 08 fours.
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3DH International started off badly losing their openers Johanne de Zilva (06) and Nilantha Wijekoon (00) for 17 runs. Captain Abeysekera, playing one drop, steadied the innings with a 52 runs stand for 04th wicket in 45 balls with Shevon Fonseka (13) (101 for 4).
Fairfirst fought tooth & Nail and got back to the game, bagging 02 quick wickets, that of Captain Milan Abeysekera, trapped LBW by Dulip Silva & he followed up by getting Sachintha Mahindasinghe stumped at 147 (147 for 7).
3 DH now needing 34 runs to win in 05 overs with 03 wickets in hand, crossed the line, as their 08th wicket pair, Vishan Gunasekera (16 not out) and Kolitha Nayanananda (13 not out) bravely defied the rampaging Fairfirst Insurance pace attack , Sampath Perera and Ishara Perera (05-27-03), with an unbroken 36 runs stand.
MCA appointed Match Referee, Imran Thahir had easy pickings by adjudicating, 3DH International Group Captain, Milan Abeysekera as his Man of the Match. The other 03 special awards, based on performances up to the Semi-Finals, went to Anura Pradeepitha Jayasinghe from MBSL Insurance (best bowler / 07 matches, 36 overs, 124 runs, 15 wickets) & Rashmika Mevan Ranasinghe from Softlogic Finance (Best batsman & Man of the series/ 07 innings 317 runs & 34 overs, 169 runs, 14 wickets).
The awards were given away by the Chief Guest, Executive Director, David Pieris Motor Co., Jayantha Ratnayake, & Guest of Honour, Director /CEO, Assetline Leasing Co., Ashan Nissanka ; Nalin Wickramesinghe (President) , Tarindra Kaluperuma (Gen. Secretary) & Lakmal de Silva (Secretary Tournament Committee all from MCA.
Chief Scores:
Fairfirst Insurance – 180 in 28.1 overs (Inesh Fernando 72, Preshein Fernando 18, Isuru Sampath 29, Ashen Shamika 23, Denam Cramer 2/27, Nilantha Wijekoon 2/25, Kolitha Nayanananda 3/27)
3DH International Group – 183 for 7 in 29.5 overs (Milan Abeysekera 76, Dineth Jayakody 19, Vishan Gunasekera 16 not out, Ishara Perera 3/27, Dulip Silva 2/14)
