Tharanga paints the town red in 77 balls

A swashbuckling and unbeaten 155 by Nippon Paint opening batsman Tharanga Indika coming off in only 77 deliveries inclusive of 11 towering hits over the ropes and eight power-packed fours propelled Nippon Paint to an overwhelming 174-run win over MJF Exports in the 1st Commercial Credit and Finance PLC sponsored, MCA Division ‘F’ 25-over League Tournament 2016, first semi-final at the MCA grounds played last weekend.

Tharanga together with Heshan de Silva (30) put on 135 runs for the third wicket in 51 balls, as Nippon Paint sky rocketed to 256 for three in 25 overs.

MJF Exports, threw1in the towel when the Nippon bowlers Dhaham Liyanage (3/20), Malith Cooray (3/5) and D. Bogamuwa (2/16), ran through the batting line to dismiss MJF Exports to a paltry 82 runs.

In the other game played at Mattegoda Heshan Flexe Packaging coasted to a comfortable 89 runs win over HNB ‘B’. Heshan Flexe, batting first put up a challenging 186 for 6 in 25 overs, riding on a 90-run stand, for the fourth wicket, in 57 balls, between R. Upamal (70) and T. Suraj (32).

The bankers huffed and puffed to master 97 runs in 22.2 overs, dominated by a trio of bowlers N. Hasaral (2/20), L. Prasanna (3/20) and R. Upamal (2/10). Nippon Paint and Heshan Flexe Packaging will meet in the final at the MCA grounds, commencing 10.00am. (Darshana Manoj 39, Tharanga Indika 155 not out, Heshan de Silva 30) (Sameera Perera 25 not out, Daham Liyanage 3/20, Malith Cooray 3/5, D. Bogamuwa 2/16) (Harshana Deshan 32, Rasika Chandana 25, G. Prasanga 20, R. Upamal 70 , T. Suraj 32, D. Panditharatne 2/36, B. Perera 2/36) (Dinesh Panditharatne 25, Yohan Fernando 25, N. Hasaral 2/20, L. Prasanna 3/16, R. Upamal 2/10)