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The winning Hayleys Group Captain Avishka Fernando (third from right), receiving the Singer Challenge Trophy from Chief Guest Singer Sri Lanka Plc Marketing Director Shanil Perera. Others present from left: MCA Tournament Committee Chairman Tarindra Kaluperuma, MCA Tournament Committee President Rohana Dissanayake and MCA Tournament Committee General Secretary Sirosha Gunatillake
The Hayleys Group, led by Avishka Fernando, emerged as the new winners of the 27th Singer-MCA Premier League 2020 T20 segment, as they dethroned defending champions MAS Intimates Unichela by six wickets in the competition’s finals played on 26 January at the MCA Grounds.
MAS Unichela, sent into bat, opened with Dhanushka Gunatillake and Kusal Janith Perera. Perera (1) played an atrocious shot, got his furniture disturbed by Hayleys’ in-form opening bowler Lahiru Samarakoon. The incoming batsman T.M. Sampath (11), Skipper Mahela Udawatte (9) and Chamara Silva were knocked out cheaply (39 for 5 in 5 overs).
Kamindu Mendis (35) and Wanidu Hasaranga (42) held the fort for a while, putting on 55 runs for the sixth wicket (120 for 6 in 16.2 overs). Mendis was out, caught brilliantly in the deep by Hayleys Captain Avishka Fernando off Lahiru Samarakoon, bowling his second spell. Hasaranga was out once again, caught superbly by Fernando off new recruit Santhush Gunatillake who was bowling his second spell.
Samarakoon polished off the tail, bagging the wickets of Anuk Fernando (11) and Lahiru Jayaratne (1) as MAS Unichela finished with a moderate 145 in 19.1 overs. Samarakoon finished with impressive figures of 4/19/4.
Hayleys started off their successful chase (146 in 20 overs/RPO 7.3) losing their Captain Fernando early for 11 runs. Ron Chandragupta (55 not out in 49 balls inclusive of a six and 6 fours) and Sachitra Serasinghe (35) put on a solid stand of 72 runs off 61 balls for the third wicket to ensure their victory.
MAS Unichela’s attack was handicapped by the absence of their strike bowler Dhammika Prasad, who was severely injured while trying to prevent a boundary. Prasad was carried off the field without bowling a single ball.
Match Referee Nalliah Devarajan picked Hayleys’ opening bowler cum opening batsman Lahiru Samarakoon as his Man of the Match. Samarakoon bagged his second award, being the Best Bowler of the Tournament with a match bag of 12 wickets for 137 runs, in 15 overs in four matches.
The Best Batsman Award went to Fernando from Hayleys (four innings, 196 runs, 1 not out, avg. 65.3).
The new Singer Sri Lanka Plc Marketing Director Shanil Perera, who was the Chief Guest, gave away the awards, along with MCA Tournament Committee President Rohana Dissanayake, MCA Tournament Committee General Secretary Sirosha Gunatillake and MCA Tournament Committee Chairman Tarindra Kaluperuma.
Chief Scores
MAS Intimates Unichela – 145 in 19.1 overs (Dhanushka Gunatillake 18, Kamindu Mendis 35, Wanidu Hasaranga 42, Lahiru Samarakoon 4/19, Santhush Gunatillake 2/35)
Hayleys – 146/4 (17.5) (Lahiru Samarakoon 21, Ron Chandragupta 55 not out, Sachithra Serasinghe 35, Anuk Fernando 2/19).
