Nawaloka Hospitals, Maliban Biscuits to meet in ‘D’ Division 40-Over League finals

Old foes Nawaloka Hospitals and Maliban Biscuits, the 2019 MCA ‘E’ Division finalist, advanced to the finals of the first CBL-Munchee Trophy MCA ‘D’ Division 40-Over League Tournament.

In the semifinals which took place on Saturday, an unbeaten Maliban Biscuits scored a comprehensive 92-run win over DPMC, while Nawaloka Hospitals romped to a comfortable 80-run win over debutants and giant killers Mode Engineering.

Maliban remained the only unbeaten team in the tournament with this win superbly carved out by centurion Anjula Perera, who struck a belligerent 101 off 63 balls inclusive of 3 sixes and 12 fours, and a brilliant bowling performance by right-arm medium pacer Lahiru Dushantha, who snapped up six wickets for 22 runs off 7.1 overs. 

The match-winners for Nawaloka Hospitals were half centurions Deshan Fernando (57 in 77 balls with 1 six and 4 fours), Samila Nadeesh (56 in 50 balls with 8 fours) and bowlers Sanka Poorna (4 for 27 in six overs of which one of was a maiden) and Thiwanka Kakulawela (4 for 29 in 7.3 overs, of which two were maidens).

Both finalists played in the same group in the league stage and Maliban had the satisfaction of beating Nawaloka by nine wickets in their league outing on 15 December at Mattegoda.

The final between Maliban Biscuits and Nawaloka Hospitals will take place on 16 February at the MCA grounds, commencing at 10.00 a.m.

Match results 

Semifinals at the MCA grounds: Maliban Biscuit beat DPMC by 92 runs 

Maliban Biscuit - 233/9 (40)(Anjula Perera 101, Nethminda Perera 34, Gihan Anurudda 28, Dilan Chathuranga 28, Lakshan De Silva 5/12, Manjula Gannile 3/43)

David Pieris Motor Company - 141 (33.1) (Lakshan De Silva 50, Lahiru Dushantha 6/22, Venura Gayashan 2/28)

Semifinals at Mattegoda: Nawaloka Hospitals beat Mode Engineering by 80 runs

Nawaloka Hospitals - 228 (38.1)(Deshan Fernando 57, Samila Nadeesh 56, Thiwanka Kekulawala 26, Gayan Prasanga 22, D.S.N. Ruberu 20, Manoj Bandara 3/54, Maheesh Theekshana 2/26, Asanga Kularathne 2/40)

Mode Engineering - 148 (34.3)(Maheesh Theekshana 42, Gagana Kumarage 41, Sanka Poorna 4/27, Thiwanka Kekulawala 4/29)