The MCA for the first time in history will feature a Schools U-19 team in the MCA Annual Open Six –a –side Cricket tournament 2015 to be held on 01st & 02nd August.
10 teams, including the School’s team will play in the Tier “A” (Turf) segment and 46 teams will play in the Tier “B” segment (matting)
On Saturday, 01st August the tournament will be simultaneously conducted in 05 venues, namely, MCA, Thurstan, Wesley, D.S. Senanayake and St. Benedict’s commencing 8.30 am. The tournament will be continued on Sunday, 02nd August at MCA, Thurstan and Wesley, commencing 9.00 am.
The draw for groupings was held on Wednesday, 22nd July at the MCA Pavilion Lounge, 6.00 pm with the participation of the Captain’s from the participating teams.
Tier “A” (turf) : 10 teams in 03 groups
Group “A” (3) : MAS Unichela “A” (2014 winner), Sampath Bank “A” and MAS Silueta “A”
Group “B” (04) : HNB, Singer Sri Lanka “A” , LB Finance “A” and School’s U-19 Team.
Group “C” (03) : MAS Active (2014 runners-up), MAS Unichela “B” and Sampath Bank “B”.
Tier “B” (Matting) : 46 teams in 15 groups
Group “A” : Colombo Dockyard (2014 winner), Dialog “B” & DSI
Group “B” : Oral Corporation, People’s Leasing & Finance PLC & UB Finance “B”
Group “C” : David Pieris Motor Co., Heshan Flexe Packaging “B” & JL Morison
Group “D” : Heshan Flexe Packaging “A”, UB Finance “A” & Union Assurance PLC
Group “E” : Airport & Aviation Services, Kanrich Finance & Std. Chartered “B”.
Group “F” : Expolanka Group “B”, Nations Trust Bank & Total Amber “A”
Group “G” : Amana Takaful Insurance, Astron Lanka & Citizens Devp. Business
Group “H” : Hirdaramani Group, MAS Silueta “B” & Regnis Lanka
Group “I” : Dialog Axiata “A”, Janashakthi Insurance & QP Employment
Group “J” : Mobitel, Singer SL “B” & Sri Lankan Airlines.
Group “K” : Palliyaguruge Group, Stafford Motors “A” & Technomedics
Group “L” : Assetline Leasing, Gestetner & Merchant Bank Finance
Group “M” : A. Baur & Co., Stafford Motor’s “B” & Unilever.
Group “N” : Ceyline Holdings, Std. Chartered “A” & Total Amber “B”.
Group “O” : Expolanka “A”, HSBC, LB Finance “B” (2014 runners-up) & Trellerborg Lanka
The tournament for the 2nd year around is sponsored by QP Employment and apart from the Winner & Runners-up trophies and Cash Awards, they will be offering 05 Special Awards to the Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Hitter of the Most sixes in the tournament, Man of the Final and Man of the Tournament.
At the end of the round –robin matches on Saturday, 08 teams will advance to the Tier “A” quarter-finals and 16 teams will advance to the Tier “B” pre-quarter finals.
The concept of entering a School’s U-19 team to the tournament came from the MCA incumbent President, former Test Wicket Keeper /Batsman, Gemini Wickramasinghe.
Wickramasinghe who is presently involved with the Sri Lanka Cricket U-19 squad is planning to get a School’s U-19 team in the forth coming MCA Premier League, starting late September 2015. He has already got the blessings of the SLSCA for his worthy exercise of taking School’s Cricket to greater heights.
