Matale District CPA division III cricket champions

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy sports Correspondent

The newly formed Matale District Cricket Players Association became Matale District cricket champions when they beat Naula Cricket Club by 26 runs in the finals of the Division III inter club cricket tournament organized by the Matale District Cricket Association and played at the Bernard Aluwihare Stadium, Matale.

This tournament in which 26 teams participated was successfully completed on time by the Matale District Cricket Association headed by Minister of Urban Development and Samurdhi Affairs Rohana Dissanayake and Secretary W. Walisundera with support from SLC Match Referee Ravi Punchihewa.

Ravi Punchihewa who is the President of the Matale District Cricket Players Association said that this Association was formed last year to give the cricketers from the district who do not have a club to play cricket. They have done well to become champions and they also remained unbeaten in the tournament.

The highlight of the finals was the fine bowling of left arm spinner S. Jayawardena who took 6 for 19 including the hat-trick and bowled his side to victory over the better fancied Naula CC.

The finals was played on the twenty/20 format in keeping with the instructions from the tournament organizers.

Matale District Cricket Players Association 190 for 7 wickets in 20 overs (G. Kularatne 37, Ananda Kumara 36, M. Kiyas 47, A. Jayasundera 20, D. Konara 2 for 36, A.U. Chamila 2 for 18, S. Basnayake 2 for 35).

Naula CC 164 all out in 19.3 overs (U. Gander 34, R.J. Samarakoon 40, S. Chamila 22, M. Munasinghe 2 for 24, S. Jayasundera 6 for 19).