CL Synergy knocks out “League” winner Fairfirst Insurance; Hayleys beat CDB

The glorious uncertainties of cricket was amply displayed, when debutants, CL Synergy toppled the reigning “League” winner, Fairfirst Insurance by 8 wickets, and entered the Final, of the 30th Singer - MCA Super Premier League 2023 “Knock-out” tournament top half Semi Final, concluded, on Saturday, 13 May at Katunayake.

CL Synergy went home to lunch, as their bowlers Isuru Udana (4- 2-11-2), Sudeera Tillakaratne (8-4-10-03), and Sahan Arachchige (7.1-01-17-03) ripped through the strong Fairfirst batting line up, crashing to a paltry 62 runs in 31.1 overs.

CL Synergy knocked off the required runs in just 6.5 overs, with opener Navod Paranavitana, remaining 38 not out.

In the bottom half Semi-Final played at the MCA on the same day, Hayleys Group romped to a comfortable 7 wickets win over CDB Finance.

CDB batting first was restricted to 205 runs in 41.1 overs by Hayleys young pace bowler, Santhush Gunatillaka (7-25-3) and spinners, Prabath Jayasuriya (10-65-5) and Avishka Fernando (3.1-09-02) 

Hayleys reached their target in 30.1 overs losing only 3 wickets (209 for 3), their innings propelled by a breezy second wicket stand of 101 runs in 89 balls between Ron Chandraguptha (57 in 68 balls inclusive of a six and 5 fours) and TM Sampath (61 in 51 balls, inclusive of 4 sixes and 6 fours); Nawanidu Fernando (40 not out) and Ashen Bandara (41 not out) put the finishing touches with an unbroken 60 runs stand in 34 balls.

Chief Scores

• Top Half Semi Final: CL Synergy beat Fairfirst Insurance by 8 wickets
  
  Fairfirst Insurance – 62 all out in 31.1 overs. (Anuk Fernando 36, Isuru Udana 2/11, Sudeera Tillakaratne 3/10, Sahan Arachchige 3/17)
  
  CL Synergy – 63 for 2 in 6.5 overs. (Navod Paranavitana 38 not out, Kushan Wickramasinghe 22)
  
   
•  Bottom Half Semi Final: Hayleys Group beat CDB Finance by 7 wickets
  
  CDB – 205 all out in 41.1 overs (Oshada Fernando 65, Dhananjaya de Silva 48, Sithara Gimhana 26, Lakshitha Manasinghe 21, Santhush Gunatillake 3/25, Prabath Jayasuriya 5/65, Avishka Fernando 2/9)

Hayleys – 209 for 03 in 30.1 overs ( Ron Chandraguptha 57, TM Sampath 61, Navanidu Fernando 40 not out, Ashen Bandara 41 not out, Lakshan Sandaken 2/49)

The Final between Hayleys Group and CL Synergy will take place on Saturday, 20 May at the MCA Grounds, commencing 10.00 a.m.