MCA Committee retains Trophy

Asanga Perera slams 85 in 60 balls; Daya Sirisena captures 5 for 23

Despite a valiant unbeaten 85 runs in 60 balls, which included five sixes and five fours by Asanga Perera, MCA Committee retained the “Tyrone de Silva” Trophy for the third successive year with a convincing 13-runs win over Lanka Cavaliers in their 10th annual cricket encounter played at the MCA ground on Sunday.

Despite a valiant unbeaten 85 runs in 60 balls, which included five sixes and five fours by Asanga Perera, MCA Committee retained the “Tyrone de Silva” Trophy for the third successive year with a convincing 13-runs win over Lanka Cavaliers in their 10th annual cricket encounter played at the MCA ground on Sunday.

MCA sent into bat began their innings with a flying start with their openers, Gamini Wickramasinghe (20) and Mahesh de Alwis (35) been engaged in a 65 run stand.

MCA further consolidated through a 30 run stand for the 4 wicket via Wasanthalal Fernando (18) and Mahesh Wijewardena (16) finished with a challenging 129 in 19.5 overs.

Veteran Daya Sirisena was the pick of the bowlers taking 5 for 23 off 3.5 overs and was adjudged the best bowler, while Mahesh Wijenayake (4/20/4) bagged the top order.

Lanka Cavaliers got off to a bad start losing Nalin de Alwis off the very first delivery of the innings to a splendid catch taken by Roshan Iddamalgoda off the bowling of Duminda Pinto.

The Lanka Cavaliers top order batsman, Varuna Waragoda, Nisal Fernando and Basil Jayawardena fell cheaply, so did their middle order with none reaching double figures.

Asanga Perera, who opened the innings stood bravely till the end on the burning deck and carried his bat over, with Lanka Cavaliers mustering 116 for 9 in 20 overs.

The bowlers who put MCA on top were the two Medium pacies Duminda Pinto (3/11/3) and Mahesh Wijewardene (3/14/2) .with Wijewardene bagging the vital wickets of Nisal Fernano and Basil Jayawadena.

Specia lAwards

Best Fielder: Roshan Iddamalgoda (MCA), Best Bowler: Daya Sirisena (Lanka Cavaliers), Best Batsman, Asanga Perera (Lanka Cavaliers), Man of the Match: Mahesh Wijewardene (MCA)

Former MCA President Tyrone de Silva who donated the trophy in 2004 was the Chief Guest and presented his own trophy to the President of MCA & Captain of the side Ashley Ratnayake.

After 10 encounters, the series tally now stands at 6-3 in favour of MCA, with one match ending in “tie”.

MCA Committee : 129 in 19.5 overs (Gamini. Wickramasinghe 25 , Mahesh de Alwis 35, Wasanthalal Fernando 18 , Mahesh Wijewardene 16, Mahesh Wijenayake 4/20, Daya Sirisena 5/23)

Lanka Cavaliers : 116 for 09 in 20.0 overs (Asanga Perera 85 not out, Duminda Pinto 3/11 , Mahesh Wijewardene 2/14, Wasanthalal Fernando 2/23)