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| Friday, 23 April 2004 |
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Sampath meet Janashakthi in MCA Premier K/O final The 11th Singer - MCA Premier League 2004 takes a new turn when Sampath Bank meet Janashakthi Group in the Knock-Out final this Sunday, 25th April at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, commencing 10.00 a.m. For the first time, the League winner and the League runner-up is out of the running and the spot light is taken by League's No. 3, Sampath Bank and its No. 4, Janashakthi Group. Also for the first time the final is played out of Colombo, in the cricket crazy town of Moratuwa. At the completion of the "League" round on 28th March, the first four teams finishing in the table of points, East West Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, HNB, Sampath Bank and Janashakthi Group qualified for Knock-out segment of the Premier League. In the semi finals played on April 10th, Sampath Bank, who had the services of the National Captain, Marvan Atapattu, Rangana Herath (Captain) and Thilina Kandambi, all now on tour in Zimbabwe, eliminated the defending Champions, HNB by 03 wickets with 05 deliveries to spare at Maitland Place, while at the P. Sara Stadium, Janashakthi knocked out the new league winner, East West Marketing on a faster run-rate. In the absence of Rangana Herath, who is touring Zimbabwe with the national side, top order batsman Janaka Siriwardena leads the well balanced Sampath Bank side. Their batting is strengthened with the return of Sri Lanka "A" team opener, Shantha Kalavitigoda - others expected to keep the scoreboard ticking will be centurion, Dilruwan Perera, Suboda Jayawardena and Jeevan Mendis. Sampath's strength lies in their bowling, Charith Buddika, Hasantha Fernando, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Lakmal Fernando, Tharaka Samaratunge & Dilruwan Perera. Sampath Bank is in the final after nine years, they were declared joint winners with Nawaloka Group in 1995. Burly, Ranga Dias, named as the best bowler in the premier league for 2004, leads Janashakthi, playing their first final. Janashakthi will miss the valuable services of Chandika Haturusinghe and Duminda Perera in the final, both figured prominently in their semi final win against East West Marketing. Now they will have to rely on Nimesh Perera, D. K. Ranaweera and Tharaka Gunaratne for runs and Ranga Dias to make early inroads into Sampath's steady batting line up assisted by Muditha Maduwantha, who will give his skipper a load of support. Former, Sri Lanka cricketer, Keerthi Gunaratne will be the match Referee cum Adjudicator at the final. Prior to commencement of play there will be a colourful opening ceremony where Singer's Marketing Director Asitha Abeysekera will be the Chief Guest. Hemaka Amarasuriya will be the chief guest at the awards presentation. At a simple ceremony held at Singer HQ on 14th April, Asitha Abeysekera presented the Singer 29" Colour TV to the Premier League's Man of the Series, Russel Arnold of HNB, on the eve of his departure to Zimbabwe. The Best Batsman, Damitha Hunukumbura of HNB and Ranga Dias, the Best Bowler will receive their awards at the awards presentation of the knock-out final. The League winners, East West Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, too will receive their awards at this Awards Presentation on 25th April. The Teams: Sampath Bank (from) Janaka Siriwardena (Captain), Charitha Buddika, Charith Sylvester (WK), Jeevan Mendis, Shantha Kalavitigoda, Hasantha Fernando, Dilruwan Perera, Don Anurasiri Jayawardene, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Lakmal Fernando, Tharaka Samaratunga, Chamara Perera, Dilshan Gunawardena. Janashakthi Group (from) Ranga Dias (Captain), D. K. Ranaweera (WK), Nimesh Perera, Tharaka Gunarathna, Amila Weththasinghe, Muditha Fernando, Sagara Kumar, Muditha Maduwantha, Lassana Dias, Niroshan Amarasinghe, Nandika Ranjith, Gihan Perera, Ishan Jayawardena, SD Roshan & Sanjaya Rajapaksa. An undefeated 09th wicket stand of 80 runs between K. Gangodawila (60 not out) and S. Wijeratne (30 not out) helped Nawaloka Group to heart stopping 02 wickets win over the defending Champions, HNB "B" in the East West Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, sponsored, "Milgro" Trophy, MCA Division "B" 50-Overs Knock-Out round match, concluded at Braybrooke Place, last Saturday, 17th April. In the other Knock-Out round match concluded on the same day at Havelock Park, Associated Motorways riding on solid 111 - runs, 3rd wicket partnership between opener, R. Sureshchandra (78) and A. Wewelwela (55), costed to a convincing 04 wickets win over Standard Chartered Bank. A devastating opening spell by Wendell La Brooy sent Nawaloka crashing to 80 for 7 and their SOS was answered by their tail-enders Udara Waruna, K. Gangodawila & S. Wijeratne. |
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