MAS Unichela clinched the MCA Premier League T/20 title defeating John Keells by one wicket in the final played at the MCA ground yesterday.
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, John Keells were bundled out for 90 runs in only 15 overs. Ishan Jayaratne top scored with 28 runs.
Former national players Dhammika Prasad and skipper T.M. Dilshan were chiefly responsible in demolishing John Keells. Prasad captured 3 wickets for 20 runs while Dilshan claimed two wickets for just eight runs. Nipun Ransika also picked up 2 wickets for 13 runs.
In the early stage it was Prasad and Dilshan who troubled the batsmen to have John Keells reeling on 5 for 39 at one stage.
Chasing a target of 91 MAS were in dire straits losing two quick wickets but skipper Dilshan, who came in at number five, rescued them with 17 runs off 17 balls. However, the Keells’ bowlers struck again to put pressure on MAS taking wickets at regular intervals. The other batsmen to enter double figures were Sampath Gunetilleke 12 and Nipun Ransika 14 runs. At one stage MAS Unichela batsmen too were struggling losing seven wickets for only 74 runs, but Nipun and Prasad held on strongly to reach 85 for 9. The last pair put the final touches to bring victory in 15.1 overs.
Though Keells lost this final but their fielding was at its best which made things tough for MAS Unichela in their chase of 91 runs.
John Keells: 90 in 15 overs (Ishan Jayaratne 28, Vikum Sanjaya 27, Dhammika Prasad 3-20, T.M. Dilshan 2-8, Nipun Ranasinghe 2-13)
MAS Unichela: 92 for 9 in 15.1 overs (T.M. Dilshan 17, Sampath Gunetilleke 12, Nipun Ransika 14, Vikum Sanjaya 3-20, Ishan Jayaratne 3-24, Sachith Pieris 3-15)
Best Bowler of the Tournament:
Nipun Ransika (MAS Unichela)
Best Batsman of the Tournament:
Shehan Jayasuriya (LB Finance)
Man of the Final:
Nipun Ransika (MAS Unichela)