Dilshan shines with bat and ball

Singer MCA Premier League :

Chris Dhambarage

Sri Lanka opener Tillekeratne Dilshan came out with a fine all round performance to steer MAS Unichela to a comfortable 48- run victory over John Keells in their 18th Singer MCA Centenary Year Premier League limited overs cricket tournament match worked off at the Colts CC ground in Havelock Park yesterday.

Dilshan hit a run a ball 42 to take his team towards a formidable 277 runs with Mahela Udawatte (73) and Malintha Warnapura (52) also providing the bulk of the runs.

John Keells in reply folded up for 224 runs in 43.1 overs with Dilshan turning out with the best figures of four wickets for 39.

In addition Sri Lanka’s opening bowler Dilhara Fernando and Gayan Wijekoon snapped up two wickets each.

Thisara Perera’s fine double of 4 for 70 and hard hitting 49 runs was in vain as John Keells fell short way behind the required rate after opener Michael van Dort had compiled a solid half century. MAS Unichela will take on MAS Active in their next outing on Wednesday at the BRC ground in Havelock Park.

MAS Unichela: 277 in 49.1 overs (M. Udawatte 73, T. Dilshan 42, M. Warnapura 52, G. Wijekoon 32, T. Perera 4 for 70, R. Buddhika 2 for 34)

John Keells: 224 in 43.1 overs (M. van Dort 75, J. Gunaratne 30, T. Perera 49, T. Dilshan 4 for 39, G. Wijekoon 2 for 38, D. Fernando 2 for 35)

Janashakthi in hard faught win

Former Sri Lanka poolist Muthumudalige Pushpakumara starred with bat and ball as Janashakthi pulled off a hard fought four wicket victory over Seylan Bank at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval in Colombo yesterday.

Pushpakumara snapped up three wickets for 39 with his off spinners to restrict Seylan Bank for 244 for 9 from their allotted 50 overs.

The Seylan Bank innings was built around two half centuries from Harsha Vithana and Chanaka Wijesinghe.

Janashakthi in reply reached their target with five overs and four wickets to spare with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara smashing a 75 ball 78 with the aid of nine boundaries.

He was well supported by all rounder Sachithra Senanayake, Gihan de Silva and opener Dilshan Munaweera. Janashakthi will meet John Keells in their next game on Wednesday at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval.

Seylan Bank: 244 for 9 in 50 overs (K. Gunawardena 30, H. Vithana 50, T. Samaraweera 25, C. Wijesinghe 66, T. Kottahewa 30 n.o, S. Serasinghe 2 for 44, M. Pushpakumara 3 for 39)

Janashakthi: 247 for 6 in 44.3 overs (D. Munaweera 28, G. de Silva 26, S. Senanayake 67, M. Pushpakumara 78, K. Gunawardena 3 for 16)

Rangana stars in Sampath victory

Leg spinner Rangana Herath produced a tantalizing spell of bowling to help Sampath Bank register a rousing 62 run victory over Hatton National Bank at the BRC ground in Havelock Park yesterday.

Herath returned outstanding figures of four wickets for 17 as the defending champions Sampath Bank skittle out their opponents for a mere 117 runs from 28.2 overs.

Earlier Sampath Bank had struggled for runs as they were dismissed for a modest 179 runs with nearly ten overs remaining in their innings.

Charitha Buddhika hit an unbeaten 41 and also followed up with a three wicket haul to complete a successful game for Sampath Bank.

Hatton National Bank will confront Seylan Bank in their next match on Wednesday at the Colts CC ground in Havelock Park.

Sampath Bank: 179 in 40.5 overs (T. Kandamby 35, J. Mendis 30, C. Buddhika 41 n.o, C. Jayasinghe 3 for 43, D. Arnolda 3 for 42)

Hatton National Bank: 117 in 28.2 overs (S. Jayantha 43, C. Jayasinghe 26, C. Buddhika 3 for 26, R. Herath 4 for 17, J. Mendis 2 for 16).