Maliban Biscuits claim first CBL-Munchee Trophy

Anjula Perera (third from right), the winning captain from Maliban Biscuits receiving the CBL Munchee Trophy from Chief Guest Ceylon Biscuits Public Relations Manager Janaka Boteju. Others from left: MCA General Secretary Sirosha Gunatillake, MCA President Rohana Dissanayake, Ceylon Biscuits Trade Marketing Manager Athula Wellagiriya and MCA Tournament Committee Chairman Tarindra Kaluperuma

Nawaloka Hospitals’ tail, Thiwanka Kakulawela (No. 9), Sanka Poorna (No. 10) and Sachintha Jayawardena (No. 11), fought bitterly but was unsuccessful in preventing Maliban Biscuits from clinching the first CBL-Munchee Trophy MCA ‘D’ Division 40-over League Tournament 2020 final, which concluded at the MCA grounds on 16 February.

As Nawaloka’s last bastion fell, the valiant Sanka Poorna, who was caught and bowled, Venura Gayashan of Maliban Biscuits breathed a huge sigh of relief as his team snatched a six-run win with three balls to spare. 

For Maliban, victory should have come much easier and earlier, as Nawaloka was tottering at 70 for 7 in the 17th over.

This was due to Maliban paceman Gayashan making early inroads into Nawaloka’s batting, bagging the vital wickets of Samila Nadeesh (0), Janaka Jayasundera (10) and Captain Samith Ruberu (0). The brilliant ground fielding that resulted in two run-outs, that of Deshan Fernando (0) and Nishan Hasaral (16) and the wicket-keeping of the diminutive Gihan Anuruddha, who was simply outstanding with four brilliant catches, put a lot of  pressure on the batsmen, with him constantly keeping close to the wickets. 

Nawaloka then staged a comeback from 70 for 7. Ishan Hasaral (16 runs off 60 balls with one four) and Thiwanka Kakulawela (48 runs off 54 balls with 7 fours) were engaged in a 45-run stand off 67 balls for the eighth wicket. 

When Nishan Hasaral was brilliantly run out off a direct hit by Dilan Chathuranga, paceman Poorna joined Thiwanka Kakulawela and they put on a run-a-ball 40 runs for the ninth wicket. 

Poorna’s batting was simply magical, with him striking 47 runs off 40 balls and hitting five massive sixes and a four. Poorna, with last man Sachintha Jayawardena (11 not out off 34 balls with one four), put on 46 runs off 32 balls, taking the game to the wire, with 17 runs needed in the last over bowled by Gayashan. 

The first ball was stuck for a massive six and the second was belted for a sizzling four as Poorna brought Nawaloka’s fans to the edge of their seats, with seven runs needed off four balls. However, all was lost for Nawaloka when Sanka attempted to lift Gayashan for another six and miscued his shot, gifting a simple high catch to Gayashan, who finished with five wickets for 45 runs in 7.3 overs, three of which were maidens. This effort clinched him the Man of the Match award, the winner of which was picked by Match Referee N.H. Nandasena.

Earlier on, Maliban Biscuits, who won the toss and elected to bat, scored 205 in 39.3 overs, riding on a 90-run stand off 96 balls for the  second wicket between opener Nethminda Perera (52 runs in 48 balls, inclusive of a six and 5 fours) and Dilum Fernando (42 in 59 balls with 6 fours). 

The total was further enhanced by a 45-run stand off 43 balls for the seventh wicket via Chathuranga Devapriya (37) and Dilan Chathuranga (20). The top bowlers for Nawaloka were Tharindu Suraj (6.3-28-3) and Thiwanka Kakulawela (8-31-3).

The three other special awards, based on performances other than the final, went to Sahan Harshana Jeewantha from Ansell Lanka who was named the Best Batsman (seven innings, 316 runs, 1 not out, avg. 52.67) and Shashindra Lakshan de Silva from David Pieris Motor Company who secured the double of Best Bowler (51.1 overs, 203 runs, 24 wickets) and the Man of the Series.

The awards were given away by Chief Guest Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. Public Relations Manager Janaka Boteju, Guest of Honour Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. Trade Marketing Manager Athula Wellagiriya, MCA President Rohana Dissanayake, MCA General Secretary Sirosha Gunatillake and MCA Tournament Committee Chairman Tarindra Kaluperuma.   

Chief scores:

Maliban Biscuits – 205 all out in 39.3 overs (Nethminda Perera 52, Dilum Fernando 42, Chathuranga Dewapriya 37, Kavinda Bandara 18, Dilan Chathuranga 20, Samila Nadeesh 2/44, Tharindu Suraj 3/28,  Thiwanka Kakulawela 3/31) 

Nawaloka Hospitals – 199 all out in 39.3 (Tharindu Suraj 36, Nishan Hasaral 16, Thiwanka Kakulawela  48, Sanka Poorna 47, Venura Gayashan 5/45 and Dilan Chathuranga 2/24)