Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Wednesday, 24 May 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Hirdaramani Group and Palliyaguruge Group from the top half of the table and Brandix Essentials ‘B’ and Stafford Motor Co. from the bottom half advanced to the semi-finals of the ongoing second MCA ‘F’ Division 25-over League tournament 2017 sponsored by Commercial Credit & Finance Plc.
The quarterfinals were worked off at the MCA grounds last Saturday and Sunday.
Hirdaramani, after restricting Janashakthi to 121 for 9 in 28 overs, were made to earn their runs the hard way and just made it with three balls to spare thanks to a fighting innings from D. Viraj, who remained unbeaten with 42 runs. (127 for 7 in 24.3 overs)
A useful second-wicket partnership of 82 runs from 77 balls between Harsha de Silva (58 in 35 balls with 3 sixes and 6 fours) and D. Harischandra (44), lifted the Palliyaguruge Group to a comfortable seven-wicket win with five overs to spare.
Brandix ‘B’ right-arm medium pacer Shiran Abeyratne put HSBC on the wrong side of the ledger with an incredible spell of 5-1-13-5 to skittle the bankers out for a paltry 73 runs from 22.2 overs. Brandix ‘B’ shed little sweat in reaching 74 for 2 in 9.4 overs.
Stafford Motors, helped by a valuable fourth wicket stand of 70 runs from 40 balls between S. Sampath (37 not out) and Rakitha Raj (31) and an amazing spell of bowling (5/9/5), rode to a comfortable 54-run win. Batting first, Stafford Motors made 154 /6 in 25 overs and had TJ ‘B’ all out for 100 runs in 21.5 overs.
First QF, MCA, morning: Hirdaramani Group beat Janashakthi Insurance by three wickets.
Janashakthi – 121/9 (25) (V. Nadeera 42, C. De Silva 25, U. Sachin 2/10, S. Mohamed 3/26)
Hirdaramani - 127/7 (24.3) (U. Vilegoda 21, M. Madushanka 21, D. Viraj 42 not out, C. Fernando 2/16, R. Brinthaban 4/22)
Second QF, MCA, afternoon: Palliyaguruge Group beat Technomedics International by seven wickets.
Technomedics – 135 (25) (R. Chalanga 35, S. Indika 30, T. Sripathi 35, S. Wijemanne 2/22, S. Rodrigo 2/18, N. Palliyaguruge 3/17)
Palliyaguruge: 138/3 (20) (Harsha de Silva 58, D. Harishchandra 44, S. Amarasinghe 20 not out)
Third Q, MCA, morning: Brandix Essentials ‘B’ beat HSBC ‘C’ by eight wickets.
HSBC ‘C’ – 73 (22.2) (Shiran Abeyratne 5/13)
Brandix ‘B’ – 74 /2 (9.4) (Shiran Abeyratne 26 not out, M. Ratnayake 25 not out)
Fourth QF, MCA, afternoon: Stafford Motors beat Textured Jersey ‘B’ by 54 runs
Stafford Motors - 154/6 (25) (K. Radeesh 32, D. Sulochana 25, S. Sampath 37 not out, Rakitha Raj 31, U. Jayakody 2/22 and D. Tharaka 2/40)
Textured J. – 100 (21.5) (R. Perera 35, Amila Mendis 5/9, Rakitha Raj 3/2)
The semi-finals will be worked off this Saturday, 27 May at the MCA Grounds between the Hirdaramani Group and Palliyaguruge Group (morning) while Brandix Essentials ‘B’ will go up against Stafford Motors (afternoon).
Mercantile Investments in its successful journey marked another significant victory when the Mercantile Investments Cricket Team qualified for the Semi Final round in the “MCA – E division 30 over league Cricket Tournament – 2017”.
In a great accomplishment Mercantile Investments Cricket Captain Dinesh Senevirathne (Branch Head – Maharagama) became the Best Bowler of the Tournament. Mercantile Investments is willing to groom skills of their staff and is expecting to bring about more victories in near future.
