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Tuesday, 1 November 2016 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Commercial Credit & Finance Plc beat MAS Unichela with a convincing five-wicket win, at the 24th Singer MCA Premier League 2017 T20 final, which concluded at the MCA grounds on Sunday.
MAS Unichela, the league and knockout winners under the captaincy of Chamara Silva, came ready to go home with a triple but Commercial Credit under their new captain Chamara Kapugedera completely spoilt the Unichela party.
The first round of the battle of Chamara vs. Chamara was won by Kapugedera when he called correctly and invited Unichela to take first lease of a lively green wicket. But Unichela openers Rashmika Opatha (19) and Ramith Rambukwella (28) were not bothered as they put on 41 runs in four overs.
The good work done by Opatha and Rambukwella was stopped in its tracks with the introduction of spin twins Chathuranga de Silva and Malinda Pushpakumara. Pushpakumara sent back the belligerent Mahela Udawatte for a duck and De Silva got the prized scalps of in-form skipper Chamara Silva (8) and Chathura Peiris (0). Chathura Peiris was caught brilliantly by Suraj Randeev with the scoreboard reading 76 for 5 in 8.5 overs.
Unichela’s woes deepened when Thilaksha Sumanasiri (2) got needlessly run out to leave things at 79 for 6 in 9.4 overs.
T.M. Dilshan (19) briefly resisted but fell to a brilliant delivery from De Silva (4-22-3) which clipped the bail, leaving Unichela on 81 for 7 in 10.4 overs.
Commercial Credit’s fielding, which was top class from the start, reached its climax when Suraj Randiv held on to another fantastic catch to dismiss Farveez Maharoof (10) off the bowling of Praneeth Wijesena (2-8-2).
Unichela did not last their quota of overs, being bundled out for 112 in 18.4 overs.
As Commercial Credit needed under six runs an over to win, the body language of Unichela did not convey that they would demonstrate any dogged resistance.
With the road now wide open, Commercial Credit freely went about their business to reach their target in 17.4 overs with Ashan Priyanjan (26 in 20 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours) and Chathuranga de Silva (22 in 18 balls, with 1 six and 1 four) bolstering the innings to launch them to 115 for 5.
Match referee Basil Perera picked Chathuranga de Silva from Commercial Credit as the Man of the Match.
The other two special awards went to Malinda Pushpakumara (three matches, 10.4-44-6), the best bowler and Ashan Priyanjan (three innings, 145 runs, 1 not out), the best batsman, both from Commercial Credit.
Awards were presented by Chief Guest Singer Sri Lanka Plc Human Resources Director Neminda Karunaratne and the MCA’s Senior Vice President Roshan Iddamalgoda, General Secretary Nalin Wickramasinghe and Tournament Committee Chairman Sujeewa de Silva.
Unichela - 112 in 18.4 overs (Rashmika Opatha 19, Ramith Rambukwella 28, T.M. Dilshan 19, Farveez Maharoof 10, Dunil Abeydeera 12 not out, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/16, Chathuranga de Silva 3/22, Praneeth Wijesena 2/8)
Commercial Credit - 115 for 5 in 17.4 overs (Malinda Pushpakumara 16, Ashan Priyanjan 26, Imesh Udayanga 17, Chathuranga de Silva 22, Ramith Rambukwella 3/27)
