Suwanji Madanayake
Mercantile Cricket Association Masters team emerged champions in the first edition of the Masters Cricket tournament when they beat Nationalised Services Cricket Association (NSCA) Masters team by six wickets in the final game played at the Irrigation ground Ratmalana last week.
Batting first NSCA Masters scored 160 runs for the loss of eight wickets off the allotted 40 overs. Palitha Liyanage scored 41 while Avantha Udayanga scored 56 as the only batsmen to go after the bowlers.
In their turn, MCA Masters raced to 163 for 4 wickets off just 18 overs. Punnyakantha Abeygunasekara scored 52 with ten fours while Duminda Somaweera chipped in with an unbeaten 58 with six fours and three sixes.
MCA were the overall winners with 49 points while CMCA were the runners-up with 42 points. (TBR)
Scores: (final):
NSCA Masters: 160 for 8 in 40 overs (Palitha Liyanage 41, Avantha Udayanga 56, Duminda Somaweera 2/10, P. Abeygunasekara 2/20, Niranjan Dabare 2/14)
MCA Masters: 163 for 4 in 18 overs (Wasanthalal Fernando 21, P. Abeygunasekara 52, Duminda Somaweera 58 n.o., Avantha Udayanga 2/40)
Special awards:
Best batsman of the tourney: Duminda Somaweera, (MCA Masters) 193 runs.
Best fielder: Kishan Dharmasena
Best bowler and player of the tournament: Suwanji Madanayake, 13 wickets for 96 runs and total of 168 runs.
