Singer bags over 40 title
Singer Sri Lanka PLC, led by Sujith Sirimanne regained the MCA Over-40 ‘Sixes’ Cricket title with a convincing win over John Keells Group in the Final, the Tournament concluded at the MCA Grounds last Sunday.
Ten teams took part in the tournament which was sponsored by Ceylon Cold Stores and contested for the ‘Elephant House Lemonade’ Trophy.
The defending champions, HNB lost to John Keells and the 2014 runners-up, Union Assurance lost to Singer Sri Lanka in the run-up to the final. The average age of the Singer Sri Lanka PLC was 44yrs and the average age of John Keells team was 44.5yrs.
Awards were given away by Brand Manager, EH Beverages of CCS, Nadeena Fernando, President of MCA, Gamini Wickramasinghe, Ex-Co member and Secretary/Tournament Committee of MCA, Sujeewa de Silva and Asst. Treasurer and Chairman Cricket Development Committee of MCA, Nalin Wickramasinghe.
Match Results at a glance: (The first team mentioned batted first)
NDB Bank 52/2 (5) lost to John Keells 53/3 (3.5); Sampath Bank 43/3 (5) lost to Sri Lankan Airlines 44/4 (4.4); Singer Sri Lanka PLC 64/1 (5) beat SL Telecom 44/2 (5); Hayleys Group 74/0 (5) beat Airport & Aviation 55/2 (5); John Keells 49/3 (5) beat HNB 69/6 (4.5); Union Assurance PLC 76/1 (5) beat Hayleys Group 62/2 (5).
Semi-finals: Sri Lankan Airlines 53/2 (5) lost to John Keells 55/3 (4.1); Union Assurance PLC 66/2 (5) lost to Singer Sri Lanka PLC 67/2 (4.5)
Final: Singer Sri Lanka PLC 67/4 (5) (Sujith Sirimanne 35 not out, Mahesh Wijewardena 17, Rasika Weeraratne 2/9, Punnya Kantha Abeygunasekera 2/6) beat John Keells 57/2 (5) Rasika Weeraratne 20, Gamini Fernando 15, Punnya Kantha Abeygunasekera 12, Chaminda Ratnasiri 2/12)
Special Awards:
Most Sixes in the Tournament: Sujith Sirimanne (Singer Sri Lanka - 7) Most Senior Player: Manohara Jayawardena (Airport and Aviation - 56 years) Best Bowler: Punyakantha Abeygunasekera (John Keells - 5 for 36 in 4 overs) Best Batsman: Rasika Weeraratne (John Keells - 85 runs in 32 balls) Man of the final: Sujith Sirimanne (Singer Sri Lanka). - L.R