Unilever Sri Lanka wins MCA “G” Division 25 Over League tourney

A belligerent batting display by Harishanth Rajendra (75 off 29 balls, 9 sixes, 2 fours) steered Unilever Sri Lanka to lift the glittering “Honda” Trophy with a convincing 43-run win over Amazon Trading Ltd. in the 13th Stafford Motor Co.-sponsored MCA “G” Division 25 Over League Tournament 2024 final on Sunday, 4 August at the MCA Grounds.

Unilever Sri Lanka, who won the toss and chose to bat, put up a respectable 196 runs in 25 overs; Unilever made a remarkable recovery from 60-4 in 14.5 overs, thanks to the quick-fire 122-run stand in 51 balls for the fifth wicket between Harishanth Rajendra and Sachira Wijesinghe (51 off 46 balls, 4 sixes, 1 four) while Ramesh Fernando (05-48-06) bowled his heart out for Amazon Trading.

Amazon Trading, who were shackled by the Unilever varied bowling attack of Dulan Abeynayake (3 for 25), Buddhika Herath (2 for 40), and V. Galahitiyawa (2 for 17), only managed to score 153-9 in 25 overs with only Nuwan Wijesinghe (45) and Semila Liyanage (46) showing some resistance.

MCA-appointed match referee Gamini Dissanayake had no hesitation naming Unilever’s hero Harishanth Rajendra as his ‘Man of the Match’. The other three special awards, based on performances up to the semi-finals, went to Dasun Tharaka Seneviratne from CDB Finance “B” (Best Bowler) while Poorna Prabath from United Tractor & Equipment won a double, being the ‘Best Batsman’ and ‘Man of the Tournament’.

The awards were given away by Chief Guest Stafford Motor Co. Ltd. Director/COO and Sri Lanka Motor Traders’ Association Chairman Charaka Perera, Guest of Honour Stafford Motor Co. Ltd. General Manager Damitha Jayasundara, and MCA officials Tournament Committee Chairman Lakmal de Silva, General Secretary Rohan Somawansa, and President Mahesh de Alwis.

Chief scores:

Unilever Sri Lanka 196 (25) (Sachira Wijesinghe 51, Harishanth Rajendra 75, Senila Liyanage 2/33, Ramesh Fernando 6/48)

Amazon Trading Ltd. 153-9 (25) (Nuwan Wijesinghe 45, Senila Liyanage 46, Ramesh Fernando 22, Dulan Abeynayake 3/25, Buddhika Herath 2/40, V. Galahitiyawa 2/17)