The 03rd Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) sponsored, “CBL Munchee Trophy” Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) “D” division 40 Overs League Tournament 2023 came to a conclusion with the Final played at the MCA Grounds on Sunday, 08th January 2023. David Pieris Group of Companies emerged champions after beating Airport & Aviation A team by 2 wickets.
David Pieris Group of Companies skipper Manjula Gannile who won the toss, decided to field first in the all important final. On the back of a solid 73 from skipper Tharaka Dushantha off just 77 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes, Airport & Aviation A posted 206 before getting bowled out in the final over. Kalpa Umayanga who constructed a 96 run stand with Dushantha for the 5th wicket also made a fighting 50 from 49 deliveries.
For David Pieris GOC, skipper Gannile led the bowling attack from the front as he took 5 wickets for just 35 runs. Akila Elabodage who supported the skipper very well clinched 3 wickets for 34 runs.
Chasing 207 to win the championship, David Pieris GOC opening batter Madushan Fernando hammered the Airport & Aviation bowling from the word go to make a quickfire 89 from 69 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes. But after his dismissal things got a bit shaky for David Pieirs GOC as their middle order completely lost their way. When the 8th wicket of David Pieirs GOC fell, they still needed 22 more runs.
But lower middle order bat Akila Elabodage and number 10 batter Nalinda Channa held onto their nerves to take them over the line with a valuable 27 run stand for the 9th wicket in the 38th over. The spirited effort with the ball in hand by Airport & Aviation A team was led by Nuwan Sameera Yapa who took a 3 wicket haul for 31 runs while Dumith Karunaratne also bowled a brilliant spell taking 2 for 31.
Airport & Aviation A – 206 (39.4)
Tharaka Dushantha 73, Kalpa Umayanga 50, Chaaminda Dilhara 21
Manjula Gannile 5/35, Akila Elabodage 3/34
David Pieris Group of Companies – 211/8 (37.4)
Madushan Fernando 89, Manjula Gannile 26, Akila Elabodage 21*
Nuwan Sameera Yapa 3/31, Dumith Karunaratne 2/31
 sponsored, “CBL Munchee Trophy” Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) “D” division 40 Overs League Tournament 2023 came to a conclusion with the Final played at the MCA Grounds on Sunday, 08th January 2023. David Pieris Group of Companies emerged champions after beating Airport & Aviation A team by 2 wickets.){kind=link}