Janashakthi lift Singer MCA knock-out title by edging out Unichela
Chris Dhambarage
Janashakthi lifted the Singer MCA knock-out title for the first time
when they edged out the star studded Unichela team by two wickets in a
thrilling final encounter worked off at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval
yesterday.
After restricting the strong Unichela batting line up for a modest
208 runs from 47.5 overs, Janashakthi the 2004 runners up went through
some anxious moments before reaching their target with two overs and two
wickets to spare.
Man of the Match Isuru Udana added the finishing touches with three
crucial boundaries after Sachithra Serasinghe and Bathiya Perera had put
on 80 runs for the fifth wicket.
Serasinghe who was dropped on 18 went on to make a top score of 50
while T. M. Sampath hit a solid 45.
Earlier Isuru Udana ran through the Unichela batting line up with a
hostile spell of bowling after they had been put into bat. The opening
bowler snapped up four early wickets including the prize scalp of
Tillekeratne Dilshan as Unichela slumped to 73 for 7 at one stage.
However former Sri Lanka all rounder Farveez Maharoof hit a fighting
half century (62) and together with skipper Malin Silva (47) the pair
put on 105 runs for the eighth wicket that brought some respectability
to their final total at the end.
Hemaka Amarasuriya, Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka Limited was the
chief guest and distributed the awards.
Unichela: 208 in 47.5 overs (P. Jayawardena 31, F. Maharoof 62, M.
Silva 47, S. Karunanayake 20, I.Udana 4 for 40, M. Udawatte 2 for 30).
Janashakthi: 209 for 8 in 47.5 overs (T. M. Sampath 45, T. Gunaratne
25, S. Serasinghe 50, B. Perera 40, G. Wijekoon 2 for 40, D. Abeydeera 2
for 35, T. M. Dilshan 3 for 35).
Special awards:
Best Batsman of the Tournament: Kaushal Silva (Sampath Bank)
Best Bowler of the Tournament: Nuwan Perera (Sampath Bank)
Man of the Series: T. M. Sampath (Janashakthi)
Man of the Match: Isuru Udana (Janashakthi) |
