Textured Jersey beats Softlogic to win MCA D Div.

A Classic, unbeaten 67 runs in 70 balls,  inclusive  of 2 sixes and  7 fours  by Rangeeth Peiris carried Textured Jersey  to a well earned ,  4 wickets win over Softlogic Holdings PLC  in the “Elephant House- Lemonade”  Cup,  MCA “D” division  50 –overs League Tournament 2012 Final,  at the  MCA grounds on Sunday.

Softlogic, who won the  toss and chose to bat, started of  well with openers,  Chaminda Nirosha and Warren Helsham putting on 35 runs in the first 05 overs.

Textured Jersey’s opening bowler,  Kosala Jayasekera accounted  for both openers , which triggered a  slump  in the Softlogic batting.

Except  for skipper  Chamara Kodituwakku  (46 runs in 47 balls, inclusive  of 1 six and  7 fours) and  tail-ender, Tharaka  Madusanka  (26 in 20 balls with 3 sixes and  2  fours),  the other  batsmen  had  little  resistance against the  Textured  Jersey  “Spin – Twins”,  Tharaka Dinesh  (3 for 25 in 8.5 overs) and Janindu Devinda (3 for 30 in 7 overs), as   they slid to a disappointing 160  all out in 37.5 overs.

Textured  Jersey,  chasing a victory target of  161 runs in 50 overs  with an asking rate of 3.22 runs per over, lost their top order batsman (all inform batsman), skipper, Nuwan Allahakoon,  Tharaka Dinesh and Kosala Jayasekera,   board showing  50 for three in 18 overs.

In walked the knight in shining armour, Rangeeth  Peiris, who collared  the  Softlogic’s hostile pace men, Roshan Derling and  strike bowler Ishara Wickramasinghe,  to anchor the  batting with two dogged partnerships,  40 runs for the  fourth wicket with Janidu Devinda and 56 runs for the  fifth wicket with Thilina Priyashan to carry them to victory in the 38th over.

Softlogic pace man, Ishara Wickramasinghe took his tally of wickets to 24 in the tournament, finishing with four for 50 in 10 overs.

This was Textured Jersey’s second MCA title in a single year, earl.ier having won the MCA “Centenary Year” 2011 “F” division, six months ago.

Match Referee, Nalliah Devarajan had no hesitation on naming Rangeeth Peiris from Textured Jersey, as his man of the match.

The other three special awards, based on performances in the league stage matches and the  Q. Final went to Mobitel’s Nalin Vimukthi   (Best Batsman) Softlogic’s Ishara Wickramasinghe (Best Bowler) and  Hayleys’s , Damith Ratnayake  (Man-of–the–Series)

Wasanthalal Fernando, Head of  Beverage  Sales,  EH/CCS and Asst. VP/JK Holdings was the Chief Guest at the  post Tournament awards presentation.  The others associated  with the awards were, Nadeena Fernando, Brand Manager  EH/CCS, Mahesh Wijewardene,  President,   Roshan Iddamalgoda, Gen. Secretary and  Rohana Dissanayake, Chairman,  Tournaemnt Committee  (all from MCA)

Chief  Scores  



Softlogic  Holdings (won the toss) 160 all out in 37.5 overs  (Warren Helsham 18,  Chamara  Kodituwakku  46,  Tharaka  Madushanka 26,  Kosala Jayasekera 2/34,  Tharaka Dinesh  3/25,  Janidu Devinda 3/30)

Textured Jersey – 165 for 6 in 37.4 overs  (Nuwan  Alahakoon 15,  Kosala Jayasekera 22,  Rangeeth Peiris  67 not out,  Janidu Davinda 15,  Thilina Priyashan 15,  Ishara wickramasinghe 4/50)