Ambawatta performs a hat-trick

Shamal Ambawatte (Mackwoods) performed a "three-in-one"- (highest break, highest total and a win) in the ongoing Metropolitan Communications sponsored, fourth MCA Mini Snooker championships, continued at the MCA table on Tuesday.

Ambawatte beat "Giant killler", Samudra Amunugama Softlogic convincingly in straight sets, 67/40, 86/25 in the fourth quarter final, posting the highest break of 31 and the tournament's highest total (86) in the second frame.

Amunugama, earlier eliminated the bottom seed, Chaminda Fernando (J.L. Morison) in the pre-quarters to set up the meeting with Ambawatte.

Top seed, Milinda Mallikarachchi (Mackwoods) was stretched to a three-frames by the promising Thilak Champika (Seylan Bank) before going down in the last two frames 61/51, 44/53, 25/49.

Seed No.3, the bespectacled Achira Welikala also of Softlogic was given a good run for his money by Prestige Automobile's H.U.U. Buddhima, losing both frames in the last ball 47/55, 44/47. Fourth seed, Chaminda Madanayake (Softlogic) easily went past Emerchemie's, Lalith Gonalagoda in straight sets 42/25, 57/45.

The Semi-final line up is as follows: Milinda Mallikarachchi (Mackwoods/No.1 seed) Vs.Chaminda Madanayake (Softligic /No.4 seed) Achira Welikala (Softlogic/No 3 seed) Vs. Shamal Ambawatte (Mackwoods)