Maliban bites with vigour to set a new mark

Maliban Biscuits, who made a comeback to MCA Cricket after a long lay off, created a MCA record by scoring 337 runs in 25 overs in 106 minutes, inclusive of 10 sixes and 45 fours, in the ongoing 6th Stafford-Honda, MCA Division ‘G’ 25-over League Tournament 2016, last weekend.

The match took place at Thurstan College grounds and the lambs that got slaughtered was Roche Products, a first-timer to MCA cricket.

Maliban started off very innocently with 3 down for 47 runs, but from their onwards it was a fireworks display all the way. Harsha Salgado, at No. 4 and Anjula Perera, at No. 5 were engaged in an unfinished 290-run stand in 112 balls for the fourth wicket. Salgado was 131 not out in 58 balls, inclusive of three sixes and 20 fours and Perera was 157 not out in 62 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and 22 fours. Maliban went on to rub salt on the wound, as they skittle out Roche Products for a mere 68 runs in 15.4 overs, with Tharaka Siriwardena snapping up 6 for 16 in 5 overs. Maliban won by an unbelievable 269 runs.

Other noteworthy performances came from Sanjaya Gangodawila from the sponsors Stafford Motor Co. (102 in 61 balls, inclusive of 10 sixes and three fours Vs. A Baur & Co); Atheek Mohamed from First Choice (86 in 54 balls inclusive of 10 sixes and three fours Vs. Total Amber); Harsha Wimalasiri from A. Baur and Co. (77 Vs. Wurth Lanka); R. Sampath from Ultra Tech Cement (85 Vs. Courtaulds Clothing) and the unbroken, 60-ball 130runs, sixth wicket stand by Asantha Perera (72 not out) and Duminda Pinto (60 not out) from Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka Vs. Peak Colombo.

The tournament will continue this weekend with a match card of 22 half-day matches.