The last two semi-final slots of the 25th Singer – MCA Premier League T20 Tournament were decided today(16), with Teejay Lanka and LB Finance receiving direct qualification for the 50 over knockout final.
Teejay Lanka will now meet MAS Unichela in the semi-final while LB Finance is set to take on DIMO at the P.Sara Oval for a place in the final tomorrow(17).
Rambukwella special lights up Singer-MCA T20 tournament
Left-handed hard-hitting opening batsman Ramith Rambukwella provided the perfect start for the…
John Keells Holdings vs MAS Unichela
Bhanuka Rajapakse looked in ominous form after John Keells Holdings was sent into bat first on a placid batting track at the Moratuwa De Soysa stadium. Rajapakse hit 5 sixes and 6 fours in an enterprising knock of 69 which came off just 38 balls.
Unfortunately for JKH though, only two other men managed to register a double figure score which meant Rajapakse hardly found any partners to build a significant partnership. The next best score came off the bat of make-shift opened Maduka Liyanapathirana who made 23.
The star with the ball for MAS Unichela was the veteran International all-rounder TM Dilshan who captured four key wickets to peg things back for MAS after JKH made an explosive start through Rajapakse. Ferveez Maharoof also chipped in with a couple of wickets as JKH was eventually restricted to 149/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
TM came out all guns blazing during the runs chase but this time it was the brother of Dilshan, TM Sampath. He used his innovative stroke play to great affect as he massacred the JKH bowling attack on his way to an unbeaten 81* which came off just 49 deliveries.
He got good support from Maharoof who hit a solid unbeaten half century after walking out at no. 3, as MAS Unichela romped home with three overs to spare and book their place in the semi-final.
John Keells Holdings 149/9 (20) Banuka Rajapaksa 69, Maduka Liyanapthirana 23, TM Dilshan 4/34, Ferveez Maharoof 2/22
MAS Unichela 150/2 (17) TM Sampath 81*, Ferveez Maharoof 52*
DIMO vs Hayleys
Hayleys won the toss and decided to send DIMO in, only to see recently Sri Lanka capped all-rounder Thikshila De Silva in superb form and hitting the ball to all parts of the Moratuwa De Soysa stadium.
He, along with stylish right handed batsman Hashan Dumindu, put on a century stand for the first wicket before Dumindu fell for a sedate 50. De Silva hit 66 runs with five towering sixes and a strike rate of 200, before he was finally dismissed looking to clear the ropes.
Harsha Rajapakse bowled three canny overs for Hayleys capturing 2/17, while Andy Solomons picked up two wickets being on the expensive side(2/30).
Hayleys never really got going in a tough run chase with the DIMO bowlers using their variations to very good affect. Ron Chandraguptha was the only man to stand up tall at the top of the order as he continued his good run of form with 48 off 39 balls.
Thikshila De Silva completed a stunning all-round performance when he bowled four miserly overs picking up 2/18 as DIMO registered a 23 run win.
DIMO 182/6 (20) Thikshila De Silva 66, Hashan Dumindu 50, Sammu Ashan 28, H Rajapakse 2/17, Andy Solomons 2/30
Hayleys 159/9 (20) Ron Chandraguptha 48, Nimesha Gunasinghe 22, Thikshila De Silva 2/18
, with Teejay Lanka and LB Finance receiving direct qualification for the 50 over knockout final.){kind=link}