Here’s round up of the 26th Singer Mercantile Premier League matches which took place yesterday.
LB Finance v Sampth Bank
LB Finance registered a massive victory by 155 runs against Sampath Bank at Katunayke yesterday. The bankers won the toss and put LB Finance to bat first. The star-studded batting line up of LB Finance fired all guns as they dominated proceedings. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Angelo Perera enjoyed batting in the middle as the pair notched up quick fire centuries at the top of the order. Sadeera top scored with 122 while Angelo remained unbeaten on 105. Charith Asalanka and Isuru Udana came into the party late in the innings with two half centuries which propelled LB Finance to a massive 375 for 3 in their allocated 50 overs.
In reply, Sampath Bank had a tall task ahead of them. They needed a big innings from one of their top order batsmen, but it wasn’t meant to be as wickets tumbled in regular intervals. Hasanth Fernando was the top scorer with 65 runs while Rumesh Buddika and Tharidu Kaushal chipped in with few cameos in the middle. Chathuranga Kumara was the pick of the bowlers for LB Finance with figures of 3 for 24 as they restricted Sampath Bank for just 220 for 9 in their 50 overs.
LB Finance – 375/3 (50): Sadeera Samarawickrama 121, Angelo Perera 105*, Isuru Udana 82*, Charith Asalanka 50, Rangana Herath 1/42
Sampath Bank – 220/9 (50): Hasantha Fernando 65, Rumesh Buddika 41, Tharindu Kaushal 39, Kaushal Silva 24, Chathuranga Kumara 3/24, Charith Sudaraka 3/25, Charith Asalanka 2/30
JKH v Kanrich Finance
JKH beat Kanrich Finance by a massive margin of 186 runs at Maggona yesterday. Kanrich won the toss and elected to field first. Their plans went south when top order batsman Lahiru Milantha started hitting the ball to all corners of the ground. Former Peterite and upcoming cricketer Milantha, together with former Royalist and national cap Bhanuka Rajapaksha laid the foundation for his side. Milantha reached yet another century in quick time while Bhanuka scored a brisk 71. The middle order which had the experience of Ishan Jayarathna and Maduka Liyanapathirana kept the tempo up for JKH which pushed them to 402 runs in their 50 overs.
In reply, Kanrich Finance could not keep up with the required run rate. Pathum Nissanka fought a lone battle for his side but after his fall there was no chance for them, they were restricted for just 216 runs in their 50 overs.
John Keells Holdings – 402/7 (50): Lahiru Milantha 114, Ishan Jayarathna 62, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 38*, Manoj Sarathchandra 46, Bhanuka Rajapaksha 71, Sahan Wijerathna 2/46
Kanrich Finance – 216/6 (50): Pathum Nissanka 62, Sahan Wijerathna 49, Vishwa Deemantha 40*, Osanda Fernando 36, Bhanuka Rajapaksha 2/27., Maduka Liyanapathiranage 2/41
MAS Silueta v Commercial Credit
A strong performance by Commercial Credit earned them a well-deserved victory by 8 wickets against MAS Silueta at Moratuwa. CC after winning the toss decided to bowl first. Their experience bowling line up rattled through the MAS innings as they were bowled out for 131 runs in just 31.1 overs. Asitha Fernando was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 26 while the spinners Malinda Pushpakumara, Suraj Randiv and Wanindu Hasaranga picked up 2 wickets each.
In response, CC wasted no time in getting the runs. Sandun Weerakkody guided his team home with an unbeaten 80 as they registered the win by 8 wickets with 34 overs to spare.
MAS Silueta – 131 (31.1): Irosh Samarasuriya 29, Nimanda Subasinghe 28, Asitha Fernando 3/26, Malinda Pushpakumara 2/23, Suraj Randiv 2/12, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/18
Commercial Credit – 134/2 (15.5): Sandun Weerakkody 80*, Dilshan Munaweera 31, Nuwan Pradeep 1/41
