MAS Unichela, John Keells, Commercial Credit & DIMO secure slots in knockout semis

MAS Unichela, the John Keells Group, Commercial Credit and tournament dark horses DIMO advanced to the semifinals of the 24th Singer MCA Premier League Knockout Tournament. 

In the quarterfinals played on Saturday, MAS Active surrendered their knockout crown as they lost badly to MAS Unichela by seven wickets. Debutants DIMO beat experienced Sampath Bank by six wickets while the tournament’s other newcomers Textured Jersey went down fighting to Commercial Credit by 35 runs. HNB suffered an embarrassing 155-run loss to John Keells. 

Saturday’s top performers were Manoj Sarath Chandra (133 from 121 balls, inclusive of 3 sixes and 15 fours) and Janaka Gunaratne (123 runs from 89 balls inclusive of 8 sixes and 10 fours) from John Keells who hit exciting centuries against HNB, lifting their team to a colossal total of 358 for 9 in 50 overs. 

Dhanushka Gunatillake from MAS Unichela continued his good form by scoring 96 runs in 72 balls, inclusive of 6 sixes and 10 fours, against MAS Active and Chathuranga de Silva from Commercial Credit (2015 MCA Emerging Player, the first to receive the MCA Scholarship to the Darren Lehmann Coaching Academy in South Australia) produced a match-winning double of 68 runs and 5 for 26 against Textured Jersey. 

Sampath Bank put up a disappointing batting performance to end up being shot out for 149 runs in 32.4 overs, losing to debutants DIMO with 33 overs to spare. 

The semifinals will be worked off on 15 October. MAS Unichela will go up against DIMO at the Moratuwa Stadium and the John Keells Group will face Commercial Credit, the 2016 runners-up, at the FTZ Grounds in Katunayake. The final is scheduled for 23 October at the MCA Grounds. 

Match results: all quarterfinals 

At P. Sara Oval: MAS Unichela beat MAS Active by seven wickets. 

MAS Active: 201/9 (50.0) (Dilshan Munaweera 55, Jehan Mubarak 44, T.M. Sampath 26, Sachitra Serasinghe 20, Lahiru Jayaratne 3/37, Farveez Maharoof 3/47)

MAS Unichela – 204/3 (30.3) (Dhanushka Gunatillake 96, Mahela Udawatte 37, Thilaksha Sumanasiri 28 not out, T.M. Dilshan 20 not out)

At FTZ /Katunayake – DIMO beat Sampath Bank by six wickets. 

Sampath Bank – 149 (32.4) (Kaushal Silva 34, Dasun Shanka 32, Pulina Tharanga 3/35, Nisala Tharaka 2/47) 

DIMO – 152 /4 (17.2) (Nipun Karunanayake 68, Lasith Abeyratne 44, Kasun Rajitha 3/40) 

At NCC: Commercial Credit beat Textured Jersey by 35 runs. 

Commercial Credit - 229 (46.5) (Chathuranga de Silva 66, Suraj Randeev 28, Imesh Udayanga 23, Upul Tharanga 20, Milinda Siriwardena 3/51, Jefferey Vandersay 3/54) 

Textured Jersey – 194 (36.4) (Milinda Siriwardena 79, Dilan Jayalath 46, Chathuranga de Silva 5/26)

At Moratuwa Stadium: John Keells beat HNB by 155 runs.

JK – 358/9 (50.0) (Manoj SarathChandra 133, Janaka Gunaratne 123, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 37, Madhuka Liyanapathiranage 25, Madawa Warnapura 2/55, Sachin Jayawardena 2/52, Sajeewa Weerakoon 2/69, Chandula Weeraratne 2/79)

HNB – 203 (42.5) ( Sachin Jayawardena 67, Heshan Gunatillake 28, Sajeewa Weerakoon 27, Madawa Warnaura 27, Madushan Ravi Chandra Kumar 3/21, Vikum Bandara 3/34, Shanuka Dulaj 2/25)