Top two teams in the Singer MCA Premier League tournament, MAS Intimates Unichela and John Keells Group will clash in the final of the knock-out tournament on Saturday at the SSC ground, Maitland Place.
MAS Unichela and John Keells finished with equal points in the league with five wins, one loss a piece. Unichela by virtue of a better run rate moved up the league table. They these two teams met in the league stage MAS Unichela beat John Keells by three wickets at Braybrook Place.
Unichela walked in to the semi-finals of the knock-out stage receiving a bye and by scoring a comprehensive six wickets win over Seylan Bank.
John Keells managed to beat HNB by 33 runs in the D/L method in the semi-final.
John Keells batting machine is in top form having gone past 300 runs mark on three occasions. Their highest individual scorer is Milinda Siriwardena who scored 153 runs off 128 deliveries.
The other centurions are Bhanuka Rajapakse (126 n.o.) and Shehan Jayasuriya (103).
Mahela Udawatte of Unichela is also in cracking form having scored 350 runs from six innings at an average of 116.6. He is bound to give a torrid time to their opponents when he opens the batting with T.M. Dilshan with Kusal Perera to follow.
A special award to the ’emerging player’ will be presented at the awards presentation ceremony. He will get an all expense paid scholarship to the prestigious Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy in South Australia.
Teams:
MAS Intimate Unichela (from): Chamara Silva (C), T.M. Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Mahela Udawatte, Prasanna Jayawardena, Farveez Maharoof, Dhanushka Gunatillake, Dilruwan Perera, Malinga Bandara, Sohan Boralessa, Lahiru Jayaratne, Chathura Peiris, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Fernando and Nadeera Nawala.
John Keells Group (from): Janaka Gunaratne (C), Dimuth Karunaratne, Denuwan Rajakaruna, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardena, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Roshane Silva, Ishan Jayaratne, Kanishka Alvitigala, Shaminda Eranga, Upul Indrasiri, Akshu Fernando, Nilanka Premaratne, Madushanka Ekanayake and Upul Bandara.
