NTB, Melwire through to MCA “D” division, 40 Over League finals

Nations Trust Bank “A” and Melwire Rolling advanced to the Final of the 4th Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. (CBL) sponsored, “CBL-Munchee” Trophy – MCA “D” division, 40 Over League Tournament 2024.

The Semi Finals were played last Saturday, 30 December 2023.

In the top half Semi Final, at St. Joseph’s College grounds, Darley Road, Nations Trust Bank “A” eliminated the unbeaten, Hayleys Group “B” by 03 runs.

Chasing a moderate total of 180 runs in 40 overs, Hayleys Group “B” was sitting pretty with 158 for 05 in 34 overs but dramatically collapsed, losing their last 05 wickets for 18 runs and were all out for 176 runs in 39.4 overs, with NTB’s right arm medium pacer, Diluka Madampage ripping through the middle and the tail, finishing with impressive figures of 08-32-05.

Chief scores:

NTB “A” – 179/9 (40) (D. Karunaratne 30, I. Novod 20, A. Fernando 42, V. Kalhara 41, D. Kalugalage 3/20, C. Chathurya 2/31, L. Rodrigo 2/31)

Hayleys Group “B” – 176 (39.4) (C. Hendawitharana 29, Lakshina Rodrigo 58, K. Kumarasinghe 39, Diluka Madampage 5/35)  

In the bottom half Semi Final at Dharmapala Vidyalaya grounds, Pannipitiya, Melwire Rolling cruised to a comfortable 7 wickets win with 15 overs to spare over Central Finance 

The top performers for Melwire Rolling were, bowlers, A. Rajendran (4 for 15) and Jason Charles (3 for 26) and their opening batsman P. Sasanka, who carried his bat out with a sedate, 36 runs, inclusive of a six and 3 fours and their No. 04 batsman Senal Samaratunga, who hit a brilliant, 88 runs in 35 balls, inclusive of 4 sixes and 14 fours. 

Chief scores: 

Central Finance – 154/9 (40) (D. Ranasinghe 28, R. Katugampola 37, A. Karunaratne 35, A. Silva 22 not out, A. Rajendran 4/15, Jason Charles 3/26) 

Melwire Rolling – 158/3 (25) (P. Sasanka 36 not out, Senal Samaratunga 88, N. Fernando 2/24)