John Keells Holdings ’A’ team created the biggest upset of the 2014/15 Mercantile ‘A’ division cricket season when they sent home the defending champions, MAS Unichela out of the knock-out final as they won their semi-final encounter by 26 runs at MCA grounds on Wednesday.
Due to the wet outfield in the morning, the all-important semi-final encounter was reduced to 30 overs. MAS Unichela skipper Chamara Silva won the toss of coin and elected to field first. John Keells suffered a major loss in the first ball itself as their opener Dimuth Karunaratne was run-out and the experienced all-rounder Farveez Maharoof struck twice for Unichela in his opening spell to dismiss Bhanuka Rajapakshe and Lahiru Milantha as John Keells were reduced to 4/3 in 4 overs. Dilruwan Perera captured two more wickets as John Keells lost half of their team to only 39 runs with only 17 overs left and then the miracle happened.
Roshane Silva and Janaka Gunaratne produced one of the best counter-attacking partnerships ever as they smashed the opposition to all parts of the ground to score 164 runs in 17 overs as they posted 203/5 in 30 overs. Right-handed Roshane made an unbeaten 94 runs in 90 balls with four boundaries and six maximums while Janaka took only 47 balls to make his 86 runs as he blasted 7 sixes and 6 fours.
Chasing 204 runs to win in 30 overs, MAS Unichela lost their dashing opener Kusal Janith Perera before he troubled the scores and his partner TM Dilshan made a brisk knock of 18 runs in 12 balls as off-spinner Maduka Liyanapathiranage exposed the strong MAS Unichela batting lineup. The young off-spinner claimed 4 wickets for 55 runs as MAS Unichela fell 26 runs short despite exciting knocks by Chamara Silva (52), Mahela Udawatte (32) and Lahiru Jayaratne (29). MAS Unichela were never in the chase as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals which halted the run chase.
Chief Scores:
John Keells – 203/5 in 30 overs: Roshane Silva 94*, Janaka Gunarathne 86*, Farveez Maharoof 2/41, Dilruwan Perera 2/23.
MAS Unichela – 177 all out in 29.1 overs: Chamara Silva 52, Mahela Udawatta 32, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 4/55, Ishan Jayarathne 2/41.
