SLT down Fairfirst Insurance by seven wickets

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) led by K. Amarasinghe won their very first Mercantile cricket title when they brought down the high riding Fairfirst Insurance by seven wickets in the eighth MCA ‘G’ Division 25-Over League Tournament final played at the MCA Grounds recently.

Fairfirst sent into bat, got off on the wrong foot getting their big hitting Captain, Lakshan Perera, run-out for six runs at 14.

More disaster followed at 14 as Perera’s opening partner R. Peiris perished for seven runs followed by their new recruit Asela Sigera for a duck, both falling to SLT’S opening bowler, I. Devin with the score on 14 for the loss of three wickets.

Number Four batsman, Thilina Masmulla and Number Five batsman P. Fernando did some repairs to the total with a fighting 51-run stand for the fourth wicket in 18 balls, before Fernando was trapped LBW by L. Kumara with the score standing at 65 for the loss of four wickets in 12.2 overs. Finally, Masmulla got stranded with a gusty 87 not out in 62 balls with one six and 13 fours and Fairfirst were all out for 144 in 24.3 overs.

SLT chasing a target of 145 runs in 25 overs with 5.8 runs per over were given a solid start by Nirushan Ramachandran (63 in 57 balls with three sixes and six fours) and L. Thambawita (32 in 29 balls with five fours) who put on 88 runs in 76 balls.

SLT now virtually in the fast lane, cruised along to win handsomely with L. Ranatunga (17 not out) and M. de Silva (17 not out) putting on the finishing touches with an unbroken 35-run stand for the fourth wicket (148/3 in 23.5 overs).

Match Referee, Chandana Mahesh picked SLT’S opening batsman, Nirushan Ramachandran, as his Manof-the-match.

Other awards:

Best Bowler and Man-of-theseries: Mangala Pradeep (MAS Linea Aqua)

Best Batsman: Suranga Thushara (Allaris Lanka)

Fairfirst Insurance: 144 in 24.2 overs (Thilina Masmulla 87 n. o, I. Devin 2/16, I. Siriwardena 2/20)

SLT: 148/3 in 23.5 overs (Nirushan Ramachandran 63, L. Thambawita 32, I. Sampath 3/28).

Fairfirst sent into bat, got off on the wrong foot getting their big hitting Captain, Lakshan Perera, run-out for six runs at 14