LB Finance upset MAS Intimates Unichela in MCA Premier League Knockout semifinal

Debutants LB Finance (League No. 4) eliminated TM Dilshan’s star-studded MAS Intimates Unichela (League Winner) and entered the finals of the 25th Singer MCA Premier League Knockout Tournament 2018.

The first semifinal at the MCA on Wednesday went into overtime as the match ended in a 201-201 tie and was decided by a Super Over.

Farveez Maharoof bowled first for Unichela, recording 11 for 1. LBF’s part-time bowler Shan Arachchige bowled five balls and gave away only two runs and got both wickets to fall - 2 for 2. 

LBF, chasing a moderate total of 202 runs in 50 overs at one stage, was staring down the barrel at 9 wickets for 167 runs. The last pair of Shiran Fernando (21) and Rajeewe Weerasinghe held on, grimly putting on 34 runs in the process, to tie the game and force the Super Over. 

In the second semifinal played on the same day at the NCC, Teejay Lanka (League No. 6) also created an upset when they disposed of Commercial Credit and Finance (League No. 2) by four wickets to book a date with LB Finance in the final. 

Chief scores

First semifinal at MCA: LB Finance beat MAS Intimates Unichela in the Super Over by 9 runs as the match ended in a draw.

MAS Unichela - 201(48.2)(Chamara Silva 55, Niroshan Dickwella 28, Kusal Janith 27, T.M. Sampath 21, Anjelo Perera 3/42, Rajeewa Weerasinghe 3/49 and Shiran Fernando 2/38)

LB Finance - 201 (49.5) (Priyamal Perera 46, Charith Sudharaka 45, Anushka Perera 24, Lakshan Rodrigo 22, Shiran Fernando 21, Duvindu Tillakaratne 3/33, Dilruwan Perera 2/27, Ishara Amerasinghe 2/36 and Sahan Nanayakkara 2/62 )

Second semifinal at NCC: Teejay Lanka beat Commercial Credit and Finance by four wickets.

Commercial Credit - 156 (45.5) (Akeel Inham 38, Jehan Mubarak 32, Dilhan Cooray 25, Chalana de Silva 3/21, Lasith Malinga 2/19, Sachithra Senanayake 2/36) 

Teejay Lanka - 161/6 (33) (Shalika Karunanayake 60 not out, Sachithra Senanayake 36, Chalana de Silva 25 not out , Suranga Shalinda 2/18, Praneeth Wijesena 2/20, Lahiru Madushanka 2/39)

The final between LB Finance and Teejay Lanka will take place this Sunday, 29 October at the MCA Grounds, commencing at 10.00 am.