Union Assurance-Softlogic clash in MCA ‘F’ Division final

Bernard Perera

Unbeaten Mobitel and Textured Jersey, firm favourites to play in the final, crashed out, beaten by Union Assurance and Softlogic respectively, in the rain affected DSI/Avi - MCA ‘F’ division 30 overs League Tournament semi Finals, played at the MCA ground, over the week-end.

In the top half semi final, Thusitha Tissera with 64 not out in 33 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and three fours, and Eric Upashantha 3 for 9 and Sanjaya Wijesinghe 4 for 20 helped Union Assurance to a 12 run win over high-riding Mobitel.

The highlight of the UAL innings was the brilliant 65 run ninth wicket partnership between Tissera and tail-ender, S. Siriwardena. UAL was looking down the barrel at 57 for 8 when Siriwardena joined Tissera at the wickets.

The gusty Siriwardena scored only one not out but held the fort from one-end, while Tissera was firing on all cylinders at the other end.

Meanwhile in the bottom half semi-final, under dogs Softlogic did the unexpected, as they raised to beat the fancied Textured Jersey and the rain on a faster run rate. The match winners for Softlogic was their eighth wicket pair R. Janith 35 not out and S. Adikari 31 not out in 17 balls with 04 sixes, who were engaged in a fantastic, unbroken 45-run partnership.

The final between Union Assurance Ltd., and Softlogic, play for the brand new DSI/Avi Trophy will be held this Saturday, at the MCA grounds commencing 10.00 am.

Semi-final results:

Union Assurance Ltd. beat Mobitel by 12 runs (match reduced to 20 overs a side).

UAL: 121 for 8 in 20 overs (M. Wickremesinghe 21, T. Tissera 64 not out, T. Nazeer 3/15).

Mobitel: 105 for 9 in 20 overs (T. Harsha 25, P. Serasinghe 27 not out, Eric Upashantha 3/9 , S. Wijesinghe 4/20).

Softlogic beat Textured Jersey on a faster run rate.

Textured Jersey: 150 in 29.3 overs (S.P.P Laksiri 25, P.L.N. Tharanga 37, H.K. Jayasekera 32, J. Pushpakumara 20 not out, N. Suraweera 2/15, C. Praneeth 3/25, Roshan Rasool 2/25).

Softlogic: 131 for 7 in 25.3 overs when rain stopped play (S. Amunugama 20, R. Janith 35 not out, S. Adikari 31 not out, S.D. Gunasekera 2/20, R.J,. Wasantha 2/19).