Eagle Logistics soars with maiden Mercantile Cricket title

Eagle Logistics Captain Prabuddha Ranaweera (centre right) receiving the DPGC Challenge Trophy from Chief Guest David Pieris Motor Co. Deputy General Manager Manjula de Alwis Manjula de Alwis. Also pictured (from left): Ex-Co Member, Ground Committee Chairman, and Tournament Committee Member Duminda Pinto, David Pieris Group of Companies Group Chairman and Managing Director and MCA President Rohana Dissanayake, Tournament Committee Chairman Tarindra Kaluperuma, and Assetline Leasing Co. Chief Marketing Officer Ajantha Premasiri

Eagle Logistics bagged their maiden Mercantile Cricket title, when they lifted the glittering DPGC Challenge Trophy, as they cruised to a comfortable 48 runs win over Allianz Insurance, in the 18th David Pieris Group of Companies sponsored MCA “E” division 25 Over League Tournament 2020 Final, concluded at the MCA Grounds, on Saturday 12 September. 

The tournament took almost 7 months to complete due to the ongoing pandemic; it commenced on 22 February, stopped on 14 March, re-commenced on 15 August, finally reaching its destination as above. 

Eagle Logistics, who won the toss and choose to bat, put up a moderate 144 for 7 in 25 overs, mainly due to the 75 runs stand in 85 balls for the 2nd wicket between, opening batsman Dineth Thimodaya (52 in 61 balls inclusive of a six and 5 fours) and one drop batsman, Dulaj Egodage (44 on 53 balls, inclusive of a six and a four).

Chasing 145 runs to win (RPO 5.8), Allianz started off on the wrong foot, losing their anchor man, Charinda Fernando (5) in the 2nd ball of the innings. 

Fernando started the innings with a cracking boundary, off the first ball and in the next delivery got run out going for the 2nd run; Fernando drove powerfully to extra cover, took the first run easily and ambitiously turned for the 2nd run; fielder Dineth Thimodaya picked up clean on the run and sent in a flashing throw into the wicket keeper’s gloves, to see Fernando fall inches short of the crease (1 for 5) 

Charinda’s opening partner, M.S. Sampan (01) did not last long, as he got his furniture disturbed by opening bowler, Asanka Perera ( 2 for 10). 

One drop batsman, Damian de Buyzer (28 in 51 balls) together with his skipper, Sameera Fernando (24 in 22 balls) then put on 45 runs in 38 balls for the 3rd wicket. 

Dulaj Egodage continued to be a thorn in the flesh to Allianz, as he picked up the prize wicket of Sameera Fernando, who was getting set for bigger things, caught well in the deep by Skipper, Prabuddha Ranaweera (55 for 3 in 10.3 overs). 

Prabuddha Ranaweera rubbed salt on the wound, as he took up bowling, got rid of Allianz only hope, veteran, Ranga Dias cheaply for 2 runs (57 for 4 in 12.4 overs). 

In the meantime spinners, Prageeth Fernando (5-35-3) and Mohamed Farri (4.4 – 13 – 3) put the rest of the batsmen in a panic, as Allianz crumbled to 96 runs in 21.4 overs. 

Match Referee Sena Nandiweera picked Eagle Logistics all-rounder, Dulaj Egodage (44 runs, 1 for 6 in 3 overs and a good catch), as the Man of the Match 

The other 3 special awards, based on performances up to the semi-finals, went to: right arm off spinner, Geethaka Chandeepa Alwis, Best Bowler, from Commercial Leasing and Finance (07 matches, 192 balls, 171 runs, 18 wickets, Avg 9.5, Economy 5.34, best 5 for 18) and a “double” to 3DH International Groups, K.M. Nilantha Wijekoon, Best Batsman and Man of the Series ( batting: 8 innings, 3 not outs, 304 runs, inclusive of a century and 3 half centuries, 18 sixes and 35 fours, Avg. 60.8, strike rate168.9; bowling : 180 balls, 137 runs, 9 wickets, Economy 4.57).

The awards presentation followed the final and the presenters were Ex-Co Member, Ground Committee Chairman, and Tournament Committee Member Duminda Pinto, Tournament Committee Chairman Tarindra Kaluperuma, Assetline Leasing Co. Ltd. Chief Marketing Officer Ajantha Premasiri (Guest of Honour), David Pieris Group of Companies Group Chairman and Managing Director and MCA President Rohana Dissanayake, and David Pieris Motor Co. Ltd. Deputy General Manager Manjula de Alwis (Chief Guest).

Chief Scores 

Eagle Logistics: 144 for 7 in 25 overs (Dineth Thimodaya 52, Dulaj Egodage 44, Nishan Fernando 17, Isuru Mendis 17, Dulaj Jayawardena 2/24, Mayura Ranasinghe 2/27) 

Allianz Insurance – 96 all out in 21.4 overs (Damian de Buyzer 28, Sameera Fernando 24, Dhanushka Kumara 15, Prageeth Fernando 3/35, Mohamed Farri 3/13)