Four teams advance to MCA Premier League T20 pre-semifinals

John Keells, MAS Intimates Unichela, Hayleys Group and DIMO advanced to the pre-semi finals of the 25th Singer –MCA Premier League 2018’s third stage T20, which commenced simultaneously at the MCA and De Soysa Park, Moratuwa on 15 November.

Out of the four first round qualifiers, the two matches played at the MCA took top billing. 

Tail-enders Vikum Sanjaya (27 not out in nine balls, inclusive of three sixes and a four) and Ishan Jayaratne (15 not out) pulled John Keells from the jaws of defeat with an unbroken 32-run stand in 12 balls for the ninth wicket, as they eliminated the defending T20 champions Commercial Credit by two wickets.

A rare exhibition of pure power hitting by Ramith Rambukwella propelled MAS Intimates Unichela to an explosive eight-wicket win over Sampath Bank with more than 11 overs to spare. 

Rambukwella carried his bat out, unbeaten on 97 in 31 balls, inclusive of 10 towering sixes and nine fours. He was engaged in an unbroken 131-run stand off just 46 balls for the third wicket with Farveez Maharoof (29 not out in 20 balls, with two sixes and 4 fours).

At Moratuwa: Debutants Hayleys, helped by fine performances by Lasith Embuldeniya (4 for 17) and Sachithra Serasinghe (52 not out), beat the experienced HNB comfortably by nine wickets while a fine bowling performance by Ramesh Mendis ( 2 for 09), N. Tharaka (2 for 14) and K. Anjula ( 2 for 24) gave DIMO a six-wickets win over Kanrich Finance.

MCA (morning): John Keells beat Commercial Credit by two wickets.

Commercial Credit – 129/9 (20)(Malinda Pushpakumara 24, Sachith Pathirana 18, Sanitha de Mel 37, Chamikara Edirisinghe 2/28).

John Keells - 130/8 (17)(Lahiru Milantha 20, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 37, Vikum Sanjaya 27 not out, Ishan Jayaratne 15 not out, Asitha Fernando 2/42, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/26).

MCA (afternoon) – MAS Unichela beat Sampath Bank by 8 wickets

Sampath Bank – 139/8 (20)(Kaushal Silva 18, Dinuk Wickramanayake 30, Hasantha Fernando 53, Farveez Maharoof 2/33, Ishara Amarasinghe 2/22, Duvindu Tillakaratne 2/22).

MAS Unichela – 140 /2 (8.5)(Ramith Rambukwella 97 not out, Farveez Maharoof 29 not out) 

De Soysa Park, Moratuwa (morning): Hayleys Group beat HNB by nine wickets

HNB – 115 (19.5 overs) (Madawa Warnapura 51, N. Nirmal 29, Binura Fernando 2/14, L. Embuldeniya 4/17) 

Hayleys – 119/1 (14.2) (Sachithra Serasinghe 52 not out, R. Chandraguptha 44 not out, Andy Solomons 22) 

De Soysa Park, Mortuwa (afternoon): DIMO beat Kanrich Finance by six wickets 

Kanrich Finance: 101 (18.4) (Vishwa Deemantha 29, Ramesh Mendis 2/09, N. Tharaka 2/14, K. Anjula 2/24)

DIMO – 102/4 (14) (Thikshila de Silva 54, Raveen Sayer 2/11)

The pre-semifinals will take place at De Soysa Park, Moratuwa; John Keells vs. MAS Intimates Unichela (morning) and Hayleys vs. DIMO (afternoon)