Kumara’s tonne pushes LB Finance ‘A’ past MAS Silueta ‘A’

Chathuranga Kumara lit up the Surrey Village grounds when he belted the bowlers for nine towering sixes and 10 sizzling fours in his innings of 116 runs in 58 balls, to lift LB Finance ‘A’ to a fine 63-run win over MAS Silueta ‘A’ in the MIDS Trophy, MCA ‘B’ Division 50-over league tournament, which continued on 3 and 4 September.

MAS Silueta amply justified their decision to send in their opponents to bat first as LBF slid to 131 for 8 with Kumara standing on the burning deck fighting fire with fire. 

Kumara, with the aid of No. 10 batsman Shiran Fernando (6), put on 50 runs for the ninth wicket and with the last man, T. Weerakoon (2), put on 80 runs as LBF rose from the dead to finish with a respectable 251 in 36.1 overs.

LBF bowlers T. Weerakoon (3 for 34), Rajeeve Weerasinghe (2 for 14) and C. Sudaraka (2 for 37), inspired by Kumara’s brave effort, bowled their hearts out to restrict MAS Silueta to 188 runs in 43.2 overs. 

LB Finance ‘A’ have so far remained unbeaten with three straight wins up to date with one more match remaining in the league against PABC Bank ‘A’ on 11 September in Mattegoda. 

Seylan Bank’s spin twins, Gayan Sirisoma (4 for 22) and Kanchana Gunawardena (4 for 35), skittled out PABC Bank ‘A’ for 142 runs in 41 overs and went on to win by five wickets with over 25 overs to spare, giving Seylan their first win of the tournament. 

Shehan Fernando (74 not out) and K. Vidura (50) hit splendid half centuries to give Kanrich Finance ‘A’ a comfortable six-wicket win over Commercial Bank ‘A’ with 25 overs remaining. 

Ashan Peiris hit a quick-fire 88 runs in 81 balls, inclusive of a six and 12 fours, to steer John Keells ‘B’ to a close five-run win over Singer ‘A’. 

Sasinda Perera gave good support to Peiris as he remained unbeaten with a well-compiled 52 not out. 

Weekend’s match results (four matches)

At Katunayake: Seylan Bank beat PABC Bank ‘A’ by five wickets

PABC ‘A’ – 142 all out in 41.0 overs (T. Silva 47, Gayan Sirisoma 4 for 22, Kanchana Gunawardena 4 for 35) 

Seylan Bank – 143 for 5 in 24.3 overs (Tharanga Paranavitana 43, Kanchana Gunawardena 31, H. Withana 22 not out, C. Sansaka 3 for 40)

At MCA Grounds: Kanrich Finance ‘A’ beat Commercial Bank ‘A’ by six wickets

Commercial Bank ‘A’ - 195 all out in 49.5 overs (S. Gunawardena 30 not out, L. Nanayakkara 41, P. Madushan 2 for 30, R. Anuradha 2 for 25, R. Laksiri 2 for 33)

Kanrich Finance ‘A’ – 196 for 4 in 24.4 overs (Shehan Fernando 74 not out, K. Vidura 50, D. Priyadarshana 49, P. de Silva 2 for 33) 

At Surrey Village: LB Finance ‘A’ beat MAS Silueta ‘A’ by 63 runs

LBF ‘A’ – 251 all out in 36.1 overs (Chathuranga Kumara 116, Lakshan Rodrigo 40, Rumesh Silva 4 for 81, S. Samarasuriya 3 for 43)

MAS Silueta ‘A’ – 188 all out in 43.2 overs (K. Silva 55, S. Cooray 38, I. Nalaka 25, A. Emmanuel 26, T. Weerakoon 3 for 34, R. Weerasinghe 2 for 14, C. Sudaraka 2 for 37)

At Mattegoda: John Keells ‘B’ beat Singer Sri Lanka ‘A’ by five runs (match reduced to 32 overs a side due to wet pitch)

JK ‘B’ - 195 for 5 in 32 overs (Ashan Peiris 88, S.Perera 52 not out, S. Ushan 33, S. Dilshan 3 for 23)

Singer SL ‘A’ – 190 all out for 31.2 overs (C. Lakshan 63, P. Wickramarachchi 36, R. Priyan 22, H. Wickramasuriya 4 for 27, S. Wickramanayake 3 for 30) 

The tournament will be continued on 7, 10 and 11 September with a card of eight matches.