29-year old Chamara Kapugedara clobbered a stunning century today as four matches in the 24th Singer-MCA Premier League were conducted in Colombo and its suburbs.
Commercial Credit vs Hatton National Bank
Kapugedara’s excellent knock of 170 helped Commercial Credit register a convincing 87-run victory over HNB at NCC grounds.
HNB skipper Madawa Warnapura won the toss and decided to bowl first. Number 5 batter, Kapugedara smashed 11 fours and 9 sixes during his excellent 121-ball 170. Kapugedara was involved in a 180-run stand for the 4th wicket with Imesh Udayanga who went on to score 64 runs.
Left-arm spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon and left-arm fast-bowler Vimukthi Perera grabbed 3 wickets apiece but could not restrict Commercial Credit from posting a mammoth 328 on the score board.
Chasing 329 runs to win, HNB were only able to muster 241 even though three half-centuries were scored by Deshan Dias, Minhaj Jalil and skipper Waranpura. Right-arm seamer Lahiru Madushanka took 2 wickets for the winners.
Commercial Credit – 328/8 in 50 overs: Chamara Kapugedara 170, Imesh Udayanga 64, Chathuranga De Silva 41, Vimukthi Perera 3/55, Sajeewa Weerakoon 3/60.
HNB – 241/5 in 50 overs: Deshan Dias 64, Minhaj Jalil 56, Madawa Warnapura 52, Hashan Gunathilake 43, Lahiru Madushanka 2/33.
Textured Jersey vs MAS Unichela
MAS Unichela registered a thrilling one-wicket win over Textured Jersey at Colts grounds.
Unichela skipper Chamara Silva won the toss and asked Milinda Siriwardana and his young team to take the first lease of the wicket. Openers, Dilan Jayalath and Minod Bhanuka made 22 and 39 respectively while Sri Lanka U19 captain Charith Asalanka top scored with a fluent 48 to anchor Textured Jersey to a respectable first-innings score of 245.
Chasing 246 runs to win, Unichela opening pair of Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka put on 84 for the first wicket with both left-handers scoring 40 runs each in 20 and 22 balls separately. Unichela batsmen went on rampage scoring over 6 runs per over but regular wickets kept Textured Jersey in hunt but eventually the former winners, MAS Unichela went over the winning line in the 37th over.
Textured Jersey – 245/8 in 50 overs: Dilan Jayalath 22, Charith Asalanka 48, Upul Bandara 41, Minod Bhanuka 39, Vishad Randika 27, Lakshan Sandakan 25*, Malinga Bandara 2/54.
MAS Unichela – 248/9 in 36.2 overs: Niroshan Dickwella 40, Danushka Gunathilake 40, Tilaksha Sumanasiri 33, TM Dilshan 31, Farveez Maharoof 24, Dilruwan Perera 26, Lakshan Sandakan 2/31, Ranesh Perera 2/35, Milinda Siriwardena 2/34, Lahiru Kumara 2/69.
John Keells vs MAS Active
Lahiru Milantha’s excellent knock of 86 helped John Keells defeat the defending champions, MAS Active by 2 wickets in a closely-contested game at FTZ grounds in Katunayake.
John Keells captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa decided to chase after winning the toss. MAS Active opening pair, Dhananjaya De Silva and Dilshan Munaweera got off to a stunning start scoring 81 runs. De Silva and Munaweera made 38 and 47 respectively while Sachithra Serasinghe and skipper Jehan Mubarak made half-centuries. Fast-bowlers, Vikum Bandara and Ishan Jayarathne shared 5 wickets while left-arm spinner Upul Indrasiri returned with impressive figures of 4 for 44.
Chasing a tough target of 259 runs, opening batsman Lahiru Milantha’s 108-ball 86 ensured John Keells picked up momentum in their run-chase. After useful cameos from Bhanuka Rajapakse and Janaka Gunarathne, Ishan Jayarathne finished off the game in the penultimate over scoring an unbeaten 35.Off-spinner Dhananjaya De Silva and left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana shared 5 wickets between them.
MAS Active – 258 all out in 48.1 overs: Dhananjaya De Silva 38, Dilshan Munaweera 47, Jehan Mubarak 56, Sachithra Serasinghe 50, Andy Solomons 27, Vikum Bandara 3/46, Ishan Jayarathne 2/49, Upul Indrasiri 4/44.
John Keells – 261/8 in 48.5 overs: Lahiru Milantha 86, Bhanuka Rajapakse 36, Janaka Gunarathne 40, Akshu Fernando 21, Ishan Jayarathne 35*, Dhananjaya De Silva 3/40, Sachith Pathirana 2/48.
Dimo vs Sampath Bank
Dimo wicket-keeper batsman Lasith Abeyrathne’s unbeaten 82 knocked down Sampath Bank by 3 wickets at Tyronne Fernando stadium in Moratuwa.
After being sent into bat first, Sampath Bank posted a below-par score of 221 all out in 44.3 overs. Opening batsman Primosh Perera made a 66-ball 40 while number 5 batsman, Rumesh Buddhika fell short of a well-deserved half-ton as he was undone by off-spinning Ramesh Mendis for a quick-fire 41-ball 49. Fast-bowler Thikshila De Silva was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 wickets while Mendis and skipper Matheesha Perera took 2 wickets apiece.
Dimo openers Hashan Dumindu and Lakkana Jayasekara made 23 and 21 respectively in chase of 222. Nipun Karunanayake and Lasith Abeyrathne added 78 for the 3rd wicket but quick wickets curtailed the chase partially. Karunanayake made a 48-ball 47 while Abeyrathne remained unbeaten on 82 from 83 balls. His valiant knock consist 2 sixes and 7 fours. Fast-bowler Kasun Rajitha grabbed 4 for 58 from his 10 overs.
Sampath Bank – 221 all out in 44.3 overs: Rumesh Buddika 49, Primosh Perera 40, Nuwan Perera 36, Chamika Karunarathne 22, Ramesh Mendis 2/20, Matheesha Perera 2/34, Thikshila De Silva 3/43
Dimo – 225/7 in 43.4 overs: Lasith Abeyrathne 82*, Nipun Karunanayake 47, Hashan Dumindu 23, Kasun Rajitha 4/58.
