MAS Silueta ‘A’ wins MCA Tier ‘A’ Cricket Sixes

MAS Silueta ‘A’, led by Buddhika Sanjeewa, emerged the new championa of the MCA Tier ‘A’ Cricket Sixes 2017 as they beat their senior sister firm, MAS Unichela ‘A’ led by T.M. Dilshan, in the competition’s final on Poya Day.

Sponsor Citizens Development Business hogged the limelight when they won the Tier ‘B’ segment, beating Maliban Biscuits in the final played prior to the Tier ‘A’ final. The Tier ‘A’ semifinals were played at the Moratuwa Stadium.

MAS Silueta ‘A’, who beat Sampath Bank ‘A’ in the quarterfinals, took on newcomers Powertek Cement in the semifinals. Powertek, with new recruits Dinesh Thimodya (U-23 Best Batsman) and Sandakan Pathirana (U-23 Best All-rounder), had earlier humbled Unichela ‘A’ during the league stage. 

Powertek batted first and scored 68 for 4 in 5 overs, with Sandakan Pathirana hitting a powerful 31 rtd. including 3 sixes and 2 fours. 

The match swung when Silueta was chasing 69 runs to win (RPO 13.8). Dasun Seneviratne bowled a containing first over (1 for 6). Silueta stepped up in the second over, taking 18 runs off Kavinda Bandara (1 for 24). Dineth Thimodaya pulled the match towards Powertek, giving away only nine runs in the third over (1 for 36). Silueta Captain Buddhika Sanjeewa (31 rtd.) went berserk in the fourth over, hitting Sandakan Pathirana for 2,2,6,4 and 4 (18 runs) as the game swung towards Silueta at 1 for 55. Now 14 runs were needed in the last over. Dasun Rajakaruna (30 not out) gave the final charge as he hit Malinga de Silva for 2,4,4,1 and 3 to win the match with a ball to spare. 

In the top half semifinal, MAS Unichela ‘A’ beat defending champions LB Finance in another thriller. The two brothers Dilshan (26 NO) and T.M. Sampath ( 32 rtd.) and Farveez Maharoof  (16) kept the scoreboard ticking for Unichela ‘A’ to finish  with 80 for 1 in 5 overs. 

Dilshan, bowling the first over, although getting the wicket of Chathuranga Kumara, was rather expensive at 1 for 20. New recruit Chathuranga de Silva bowled a good second over, getting the wicket of Sadeera Samarawickrama in the process (2 for 30). Maharoof got the wicket of Ranitha Liyanarachchi but gave away 15 runs (3 for 45). Then came the big fourth over for LBF. Sahan Arachchige (41 n.o.) showed scant respect for T.M. Sampath, hitting him for 20 runs (3 for 65). LBF needed 16 runs in the last over bowled by Lahiru Jayaratne. Yashan Samarasinghe got run out in the second ball, going for the second run (70 for 4). Sahan Arachchige, who earlier retired for 34 runs, came back to join Rajeeve Weerasinghe at the wicket. 

The third ball was a golden dot. Arachchige hit a boundary in the fourth ball but was restricted to two runs in the penultimate delivery (76 for 4). With five runs to get off the last ball, Jayaratne kept his nerve and sent in a fireball delivery which resulted in a single (77 for 4), enabling Unichela to win by three runs. The finalists MAS Unichela ‘A’ and MAS Silueta ‘A’ had to travel down from Moratuwa to the MCA to play the Tier ‘A’ final (turf).

Sent in to bat, MAS Silueta ‘A’ put up a solid 80  for 1 in five overs with their openers Denuwan Rajakaruna  (31 rtd. with 1 six and 4 fours) and Kaveen de Silva (31 rtd. with 3 sixes and 2 fours) engaged in an unbeaten 65-run stand. Jayaratne gave away 24 runs in the fourth over and Dilshan gave away 17 runs in the fifth over. 

Even for the experienced MAS Unichela ‘A’, 81 runs in 5 overs (RPO 16.2) was an uphill task as they huffed and puffed to muster 68 for 2 in 5 overs, thus giving MAS Silueta ‘A’ a 12-run win and the title. 

Final: MAS Silueta ‘A’ - 80 for 1 in 5 overs (Denuwan Rajakaruna 31 rtd, Kaveen de Silva  31 rtd., Charana Nanayakkara 12, T.M. Dilshan 1/17) beat MAS Unichela ‘A’ (T.M. Sampath 30, T.M. Dilshan 21, Farveez Maharoof 15 not out, Kaveen de Silva 1/18, Angelo Emmanuel 1/13) 

Special awards: Tier ‘A’:

Most number of sixes in the tournament – T.M. Sampath from MAS Unichela ‘A’ 

Best Bowler - Farveez Maharoof from MAS Unichela ‘A’.

Best Batsman - T.M. Sampath from MAS Unichela ‘A’

Man of the Final – Kaveen de Silva from MAS Silueta ‘A’.

Man of the Tournament: Sandakan Pathirana from Power-Tek Cement. 

At MCA (Tier ‘B’): In the semifinals, Kanrich Finance ‘A’ 55/4 (5) lost to CDB 56/3 (4.5). Maliban Biscuits - 64/4 (5) beat Astron Lanka 52/4 (5).

Final: Maliban – 62/5 (5) ( Anjula Perera 25, Lahiru Dushantha 12, C.M. Dikkumbura 1/7, Buddhika Silva 1/11, D.P. Dharmasiri 1/12, A. Akuregoda 1/19) lost to CDB - 64/4 (4.5)(A. Akuregoda 25,  Buddhika Silva  20 not out, Chathuranga Dewapriya 2/3, Lahiru Dushantha  1/19). Special awards: CDB’s versatile all rounder W.P.D.P. Dharmasiri swept the board, winning three of the five awards offered – Most  Number of Sixes Scored in the Tournament (13), Best Batsman and Man of the Tournament and the other two awards went to Risith Upamal from Maliban,  Best Bowler and Buddhika Silva from CDB, the Man of the Final . 

The tournament for the first time was sponsored by award-winning, Non-Banking Financial Institution entity Citizens Development Business Finance Plc (CDB).

The tournament, with 12 teams in the Tier ‘A’ segment and 48 teams in the Tier ‘B’ segment, was held on 5, 6 and 7 August.

Awards were given away by MCA Tournament Committee Chairman Sujeewa de Silva, MCA General Secretary Nalin Wickremesinghe, MCA President Niran Mahawatte, CDB Finance Deputy General Manager Hasitha Dasanayake (Guest of Honour) and CDB Chief Credit Officer Director Sasindra Munasinghe (Chief Guest).