MAS Active booked their place in the finals of the MCA division ‘A’ knock-out tournament 2014/15 when they triumphed victorious over Commercial Credit by 2 wickets in a nail-biting semi-final played at MCA grounds on Friday.
MAS Active skipper Sachithra Serasinghe won the toss of coin and elected to field first on a perfect day for cricket. Commercial Credit lost their opener Sandun Weerakkody in the first ball of the match when he was clean bowled by the 19-year old tall left-arm seamer Binura Fernando. Commercial innings lost the stagger as their top order collapsed dramatically as their top 5 batsmen made only 62 runs inside the first 17 overs.
Energetic and determined Commercial Credit middle-order reconstructed their innings with a collective batting effort in the 2nd half of their innings. All-rounder Suraj Randiv justified his selection for the India tour with the Sri Lanka team as he made 56 valuable runs in just 47 balls while Lasith Abeyratne (35), Lahiru Madusanka (33) and Malinda Pushpakumara (38) chipped in with useful contributions as Commercial Credit piled up a score of 225 all out in 49.1 overs. Off-spinner Sachithra Serasinghe was the pick of the bowlers as he captured 4 wickets for 23 runs while Binura Fernando and Dilshan Munaweera scalped 2 wickets each.
Chasing 226 runs to win their spot in the finals, MAS Active’ innings was driven by a match-winning 70-run partnership between Sachith Pathirana and Dhananjaya De Silva for the 8th wicket as they batted sensibly in their 50-ball stand. Earlier on in MAS Active innings, they lost their top batsmen cheaply and at one stage they were struggling at 141 for 7 in the 34th over. Right arm fast-bowler Lahiru Gamage took 3 wickets in the middle overs for Commercial Credit as they fought valiantly but the 8th wicket stand was too much for Commercial Credit. Right-handed Dhananjaya De Silva stroked an unbeaten knock of 50 runs in 39 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes while Sachith Pathirana struck 41 runs in 27 deliveries including 4 massive sixes. MAS Active reached their target in the 45th over with 2 wickets remaining.
MAS Active will now meet John Keells’ Holdings in the final scheduled to play on the 26th October or November 7th.
Chief Scores:
Commercial Credit – 225 all out in 49.1 overs: Suraj Randiv 56, Malinda Pushpakumara 38, Lasith Abeyrathna 35, Sachithra Serasinghe 4/23, Dilshan Munaweera 2/36, Binura Fernando 2/44.
MAS Active – 228/8 in 44.2 overs: Dhananjaya De Silva 50*, Sachith Pathirana 41, Sachithra Serasinghe 34, Lahiru Gamage 3/51.
