MCA Committee retains ‘Tyrone de Silva’ Challenge Trophy

The MCA Committee led by Senior Vice President, Roshan Iddamalgoda, retained the ‘Tyrone de Silva’ Challenge Trophy with a comfortable 06 wickets win over Lanka Cavaliers in their 13th Annual Cricket Encounter 2016, concluded at the MCA Grounds on Sunday.

The Lanka Cavaliers sent into bat had to struggle for runs as they were shackled by the pace-spin combination of Duminda Pinto (4-10-2) and Sirosha Gunatillake (4-1-33-3); they were able to muster 131 runs in 20 overs mainly due to the 45 runs stand for the 05th wicket between Sajeewa de Silva (30 in 28 balls with 05 fours) and skipper Nalliah Devarajan (25 in 15 balls, with a six and 03 fours).

MCA Committee chasing a victory target of 133 runs in 20 overs (RPO 6.65) got off to a solid start, with their openers Namal Seneviratne (50 in 38 balls, 03 sixes and 06 fours) and Punyakantha Abeygunasekera (53 in 43 balls; 02 sixes and 06 fours) put on 82 runs in 11 overs.

Skipper Deverajan tried 08 bowlers, including himself looking for an opening, but was without success; as MCA Committee romped home, scoring 132 for 3 in 17.1 overs. All four special awards offered went to MCA: HUU Buddhima (Best Fielder), Sirosha Gunatillake (Best Bowler) Namal Seneviratne (Best Batsman) and Punyakantha Abeygunasekera (Man of the Match).

Awards were given away by Upali Warnapura, President, Lanka Cavaliers, Roshan Iddamalgoda, Senior VP/MCA and the Chief Guest, former President/MCA and the donor of the Trophy, Tyrone de Silva. 

Chief scores

Lanka Cavaliers: 131 for 6 in 20 overs. (Asanga Perera 28, Sajeewa de Silva 30, Nalliah Deverajan 25, Duminda Pinto 2/10, Sirosha Gunatillate 3/33)  

MCA Committee: 132 for 4 in 17.1 overs (Namal Seneviratne 50, Punyakantha Abeygunasekera 53 rtd, Sanjaya Wijesinghe 15)

The series tally after 13 encounters stands at 8-3 in favour of MCA Committee with one encounter ending in “tie” and one ending in a no result.