Sampath Bank regains Premier League title

Chris Dhambarage

Sampath Bank regained the Singer MCA Premier League knock out cricket title when they defeated East West Marketing by 49 runs in the rain curtailed final encounter worked off at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.

Sampath Bank hit up 202 for 8 from their restricted 37 overs after winning the toss and batting first and then produced a splendid performance on the field to dismiss their opponents for 153 in 30.2 overs.

Jeewan Mendis played a match winning innings of 62 not out for Sampath Bank from 72 deliveries with the aid of one six and two boundaries. He also put on a valuable 45 runs for the ninth wicket along with Nuwan Perera. East West Marketing made a fine effort to reach their target through T. M. Sampath who hit a fighting knock of 70 from 64 deliveries inclusive of two sixes and seven boundaries before he was last man out.

Malinga Surappulige snapped up three wickets while Jeewan Mendis followed up his batting heroics to claim two wickets that helped him to win the Man of the Match award.

In addition Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (Janashakthi) was named Best Batsman of the tournament, Sajeewa Weerakoon (Hatton National Bank) took the Best Bowlers award while Sachith Pathirana Janashakthi won the Man of the Series award.

Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka Limited Hemaka Amarasuriya was the chief guest and distributed the awards.

Sampath Bank: 202 for 8 in 37 overs (Dilruwan Perera 25, Thilina Kandamby 36, Jeewan Mendis 62 n.o, Dilhara Lokuhettige 17, Ruchira Perera 4 for 49, Dhammika Prasad 2 for 48)

East West Marketing: 153 in 30.2 overs (T. M. Sampath 70, Thisara Perera 16, Dilhara Lokuhettige 2 for 50, Malinga Surappulige 3 for 25, Jeewan Mendis 2 for 18)