Sampath, John Keells and Commercial C&F advance to semis

Sampath Bank, John Keells and Commercial Credit & Finance advanced to the semi-finals of the 23rd Singer –MCA Premier League Knock-out Tournament 2016 when they won their quarter finals on Wednesday,

They will now join the league winner, MAS Active Trading, who have drawn a bye into the semi-finals.

A mesmerizing bowling performance by MCA’s Emerging Player 2014, Chathuranga de Silva, (10-1-34-7), guided Commercial Credit & Finance to an upset a three wickets win over the fancied, MAS Unichela.

MAS Unichela, sent into bat, got off to a flying start via an opening stand of 125 runs in 142 balls between Dhanushka Gunatillake (89 in 127 balls inclusive of 02 sixes and 05 fours) and T.M. Dilshan (63 in 74 balls inclusive of a six and 04 fours).

Chathuranga de Silva was brought into the attack in the 23rd over and immediately got rid of the rampaging, T.M. Dilshan and the dangerous Mahela Udawatte (00) in 02 successive deliveries.

Sampath Bank, John Keells and Commercial Credit & Finance advanced to the semi-finals of the 23rd Singer –MCA Premier League Knockout Tournament 2016 when they won their quarter finals on Wednesday

De Silva kept on firing his colt, as he got rid of Prasanna Jayawardena (04), Chamara Silva (00), T. Sumanasiri (00), Farveez Maharoof (10) and Malinga Bandara (01)

Thanks to some rear guard action by tail-ender, PLM Jayaratne (31 in 37 balls with 03 fours), MAS Unichela got up to 221 in 49.5 overs.

Commercial Credit got off to a disastrous start, losing Shehan Jayasuriya) and Upul Tharanga and soon was looking down the barrel, further sliding to 65 for 5.

Chamara Kapugedera (15) and Chathuranga de Silva (15) put them back on course to reach 102 for 7 in the 27th over.

But Commercial Credit was still far from shore needing 120 runs more in 23 overs with only 03 wickets standing.

Suddenly the Commercial Credit unsteady boat got a gush of wind in their sails in the form of two gutsy batsmen L.D. Madushanka (66 not out in 75 balls inclusive of 03 sixes and 01 four) and Suraj Randeev (73 not out in 80 balls, inclusive of 02 sixes and 07 fours), who put on 117 runs for the 8th wicket, as they touched port with 04 balls to spare.

In a match reduced to 28 overs a side, bowlers Bhanuka Rajapaksa (5-28-4) and Janaka Gunaratne (5.4 – 1-19-5) propelled John Keells to a comfortable 67 run win over Seylan Bank.

A superb opening stand between Sameen Kandanarachchi (59 in 57 balls with 01 six & 07 fours) and Primosh Perera ( 80 in 105 balls inclusive of 02 sixes & 06 fours) in 21 overs, paved the way for Sampath Bank to a convincing 05 wickets win with nearly 10 overs to spare over HNB.

At MCA: John Keells beat Seylan Bank by 67 runs (match reduced to 28 overs a side due to soggy ground conditions. )

JK – 164/9 (28.0) (N.H.G. Cooray 43, Y. Lanka 20, M.A.P. Fernando 28, L. Abeykoon 2/31, C.G. Wijesinghe 3/35, K. Gunawardena 2/33)

Seylan Bank - 97 (23.4) (K. Hiniduma 20, L. Nimsara 20, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 4/28, Janaka Gunarate 5/19)

At Katunayake : Sampath Bank beat HNB by 05 wickets

HNB – 204/7 (50.0) (H.A.T. Fernando 20, D. Dias 47, R.G. Perera 30, S. Jayawardena 26, N.V.R. Perera 26 not out, R.K. Fernando 2/28, H. Nirmal 2/22)

Sampath Bank – 206/5 (40.4) (Sameen Kandanarachchi 59, Primosh Perera 80, Jeevan Mendis 33, Madawa Warnapura 3/43)

At Moratuwa: Commercial Credit & Finance beat MAS Unichela by 03 wickets.

MAS Unichela - 221 (49.2) ( M.D. Gunatilake 89, T.M. Dilshan 63, P.L.M. Jayaratne 31, L.D. Madushanka 2/41, Chathuranga de Silva 7/34)

Commercial Credit - 224/7 (49.2) (L.D. Madushanka 66 not out, Suraj Randeev 73 not out, P.L.M. Jayaratne 2/40)

The Semi Finals will be staged on Sunday, October, 25 as follows :

MAS Active Trading vs. Sampath Bank at MCA Grounds . John Keells vs. Commercial Credit at FTZ Grounds, Katunayake. (BM)