The reigning champions of the 2018 MCA Premier League, LB Finance, were given the knockout punch by the less fancied MAS Silueta in the quarterfinal of the MCA Premier League Knockout Tournament today (22).
The game was reduced to a 42 over affair due to a wet outfield at the BRC Grounds in Colombo, as MAS Silueta won the toss and elected to field first with Duckworth-Lewis most likely to come into play later in the day.
Read: LB Finance crowned 26th Singer-MCA Premier League champions
Sahan Arachchige led the way for LB Finance with a solid half century (70) before Chathuranga Kumara (35) and Shiran Fernando (26) added impetus to their innings with some clean hitting during the latter stages, as they posted a respectable 230/8 in their 42 overs.
Veteran quick Buddhika Sanjeewa bowled decently to capture 2/37 but it was the spin duo of Anjelo Emmanuel and Avindu Theekshana who put the breaks to the LB Finance innings sharing four wickets among them.
Former Richmondite Dhananjaya Lakshan hit a swashbuckling 67 at the top of the order before the former Peterite duo of Emmanuel and Shehan Fernando hit unbeaten half centuries to guide MAS Silueta to a well deserved win and a place in the final four.
Chathuranga Kumara was the only man to trouble the winners capturing 3/29 with his right arm seamers, but his efforts went in vain as MAS Silueta got home with more than three overs to spare.