Stafford Motors Captain takes second hat-trick in MCA F Division 25 Over League

Captain Geeth Karunaratne recorded the second hat-trick of the ongoing second MCA ‘F’ Division 25 Over League Tournament 2017 sponsored by Commercial Credit and Finance Plc, as he propelled Stafford Motors Ltd. to the competition’s final, beating Brandix Essentials ‘B’ by 64 runs in the bottom half semifinal played on Saturday.

On the same day, in the top half semifinal, the revamped Hirdaramani Group SC scored a well-deserved eight-wicket win over the Palliyaguruge Group. 

Stafford Motors vs. Brandix Essentials ‘B’ 

 

Karunaratne performed his hat-trick in two separate overs. In the fifth ball of his first over he got rid of Sampath Sri Kumara caught behind and in the last ball he got the wicket of K. Surendra caught by Rakitha Raj. In the first delivery of his second over he had Janaka Prasanna also out caught.

Brandix from 13 for 3 briefly recovered through a fourth wicket stand of 45 runs, taking the score up to 58. Karunaratne then came in to bowl his last over and broke the partnership, finishing with 5-27-4. The score at that point was 58 for 4 in 10 overs.

Spinners Amila Mendis (2/41) and D. Kumara (3/13) took over from where Karunaratne left off and polished off the Brandix middle order and tail as they folded up for 132 runs in 21.4 overs. 

Earlier on, Stafford Motors put up a solid 196 for 4 in 25 overs (RPO 7.84) riding on two productive partnerships - the opening stand of 75 runs off 77 balls between Kalpa Radeesh (35) and Jayanga Peiris (40) and the fourth-wicket stand of 70 runs from 25 balls between Asantha Singappuli (65) and Rakitha Raj (25 not out). 

 

Hirdaramani vs. Palliyaguruge Group 

 

Palliyaguruge, batting first, put up a challenging 154 for 8 in 25 overs, with good contributions coming from S. Wijemanne (35) and Sahan Amarasinghe (35). 

Hirdaramani shed little sweat to reach their target as their openers Krishan Aruna (65 in 41 balls with 3 sixes and 8 fours) and H. Lakshitha (36 in 45 balls with 1 six and 1 four) laid a solid foundation with a 90-run stand off 70 balls. D. Thiranjana (37 not out) put the finishing touches, reaching 158 for 2 in 22.3 overs.  Weather permitting, the final between Hirdaramani Group and Stafford Motors, the 2016 ‘G’ Division winner, will take place this Sunday, 4 June at the MCA Grounds, commencing at 10.00 a.m.

Chief scores 

First semifinal at MCA: Hirdaramani beat Palliyaguruge Group by 8 wickets. 

Palliyaguruge – 154/8 (25) (Harsha de Silva 20, S. Wijemanne 35, S. Amarasinghe 35, K. Madushanka 2/35, V. Viraj 2/18)  Hirdaramani - 158/2 (22.3) (Krishantha Aruna 65, H. Lakshitha 36 and D. Thiranjana 37 not out)

Second semifinal at Army Grounds, Mattegoda: Stafford Motor Co. beat Brandix Essentials ‘B’ by 64 runs. 

Stafford – 196/4 (25) (Kalpa Radeesh 35, Jayanga Peiris 40, D. Sulakshana 21, A. Singappuli 65, Rakitha Raj 25 not out, Taraka Silva 3/35)

Brandix ‘B’ – 132 (21.4) (I. Hussain 31, M. Ratnayake 45, Geeth Karunaratne 4/27, Amila Mendis 2/41 and D. Kumara 3/13)