MCA ‘Centenary Year’ 2011 tournament off to a good start

By Tyrone Perera

The MCA ‘Centenary Year’ 2011 Invitational 20+20 Super tournament got off to a start at the venues on Wednesday.

Both Sri Lanka Cricket Development squads hogged the limelight when their U-20 team, led by Ramitha Rambukwella beat the fancied Sampath Bank team, 2011 MCA League winner while the U-19 team led by Akila Jayasundere beat the 2011 MCA Premier League K-0 winner Seylan Bank.

Defence Services, led by Sikkuge Prasanna hunted down another fancied MCA Premier League team, Unichela, and ETI, MCA “B” division team beat the experienced HNB, yet another MCA Premier League team.

The first days batting honours went to Defence Services, opener, Rishan Kavinga (50 Vs. Unichela) , HNB, opener, Damitha Hunukumbara (62 Vs. ETI) and Unichela, opener, Malinda Warnapura (54 Vs. Defence Services)

The best bowling came from SLC U-20 paceman, Lahiru Jayaratne (3 for 16 Vs. Sampath Bank) and Defence services paceman Janith Silva (3 for 19 Vs. Unichela)

Match results

Thurstan/morning:

Sri Lanka Cricket Development squad U-20 XI beat Sampath Bank by 32 runs.

(Match reduced to 13 overs a side, due to wet ground conditions)

SLC U-20 (sent into bat) – 99/8 (13) (Shehan Jayasuriya 37, Dhananjaya de Silva 22, Akshu de Silva 13, Nuwan Perera 2/14, Thilina Kandambi 2/3)

Sampath Bank: 67 (11.3) (Jeewan Mendis 13, Charitha Buddhika 17, Lahiru Jayaratne 3/16, Matheesha Perera 2/7, Akshu Fernando 2/1)

Thurstan/afternoon:

Combined Defence Services beat Unichela 33-runs. Defence Services (won the toss) 152/8 (20) (Rishan Kavinga 50, M. Feshal 21, C. Ruwansiri 14, Udara Peiris 23 not out, R. K. Jayatissa 16, Dilruwan Perera 2/20, Malinga Bandara 2/22, Dunil Abeydeera 2/22)

Unichela – 119 (19.1) (Malinda Warnapura 54, Dilruwan Perera 16, Chamara Silva 10, Madura Lakmal 16, Janith Silva 3/19, S. Prasanna 2/21, C. Ruwansiri 2/14)

Bloomfield/morning:

SLC U-19 beat Seylan Bank by 14-runs (match reduced to 17-overs-a-side, due to wet ground conditions). SLC U-19 (sent into bat) 125/7 (17) (Ifras Rafi 42, M. Sarathchandra 30, Ishan Rangana 28, Kaushalya Weeraratne 2/26). Seylan Bank – 111/9 (17) (Kanchana Gunawardena 16, Chanaka Wijesinghe 34, Nuwan Shiroman 10, K. Hasanjith 15 not out, U. Mayurakantha 2/17, Ishan Rangana 2/23)

Bloomfield/afternoon:

ETI beat HNB by 02 wickets. HNB (won the toss) 159/7 (20) (Damitha Hunukumbura 62, Saman Jayantha 27, Madava Warnapura 18, Chinthaka Jayasinghe 10, Nimesh Perera 13, Hemantha Boteju 17 not out , Satich Pathirana 2/46, C. Jayampathi 2/19)

ETI : 160/8 (19.4) (Gayan de Silva 39, Udara Jayasundera 12, Indika de Seram 21, Demintha Dahanayake 29, C. Jayampathi 37 not out, Saman Jayantha 2/34, Duncan Arnolda 3/23).