Exciting contest at MCA Premier League Semi finals

Dilshan Munaweera, carried his bat out with a brilliant 129 not out, inclusive  of  05 sixes and  11 fours to propel  MAS Active to an exciting 05 wickets win over HNB in the 19th Singer-MCA  Premier League ,   Knock-out Semi Finals at Thurstan  College  grounds on Wednesday.

In the meantime, at the BRC grounds,  in the other semi-final, MAS Active’s    sister company,  MAS  Unichela had  to fight every inch  of the way to post a heart stopping  14-runs win over  John Keells.

Thurstan College grounds proved to  be a batsman’s paradise as it produced 539 runs in 88.4 overs,  yielding 03 centurions  in the process.

Apart from  Dilshan  Munaweera’s  onslaught for MAS Active,  first came the 02 centuries scored by HNB openers,  Hashan Gunatillake   (108 runs in 122 balls, inclusive  of  08  fours) and Saman Jayantha  (123 runs in 107 balls inclusive of 15 fours & 03 sixes)  who put on  220 runs in 33 overs for the first wicket to guide them to a commendable  269 for 8 in 45 overs.

It was Gunatillake’s 2nd ton (earlier he scored 115 Vs.  MAS Active in the league stage) and like wise for Saman Jayantha (earlier he scored 105 Vs.  JK in the league stage)

It was  so close, but  yet  so far for John  Keells, as they  threw away the  game which was theirs for  the  taking.  After restricting the strong MAS Unichela batting line-up for a gettable 181 for 9 in 46 overs, they were cruising along with the board reading 104 for 1, their openers Dilshan Witharana (52) and Lahiru Thirimanne (45) associated in a century partnership.

When the going was good, came along the spiders, Malinda Warnapura (4/34) and Sohan Boralessa (3/30) to spoil the soup for John Keells, who crashed to 167 runs in the 40th over, falling short by 14 –runs.       

Semi Finals Match Results

Top Half Semi final at Thurstan College Grounds:   MAS Active beat HNB by 05 wickets.  (Match reduced to 45-overs a –side, due to wet ground conditions)

HNB (won the toss and chose to bat) 269 for 8 in 45 overs.  (Hasan Gunatillake 108,  Saman  Jayantha  123, Sachitra Serasinghe 2/28,  T.M.  Sampath 4/38)

MAS Active – 270 for 5 in 43.4 overs  (Dilshan Munaweera  129 not out,  Jeewantha  Kulatunga 28,  Kithruwan  Vithanage 20,  Sachitra Serasinghe  39,  Kaushal  Lokuarachchi 25,  C. Peiris 2/44)

Bottom half semi-final at BRC grounds: MAS Unichela beat John Keells by  14 runs  (match  reduced to  46 overs –a-side, due to wet ground conditions) MAS Unichela (won the toss and  chose to bat) – 181 for 9 in 46 overs  ( Shalika Karunanayake 75,  Nadeera Nawala 21,  Milinda Siriwardena  2/28) John Keells - 167 in 39.3 overs  (Dilshan  Witharana  52,  Lahiru Tirimanne 45,  Malinda Warnapura 4/34,   Sohan Boralessa 3/30)

It will be a home & home affair when MAS Unichela  (last year’s knock-out runners- up)  meet MAS Active in the final, this Saturday , 26th November at the SSC grounds, commencing 10.00am.