MCA and SSK - joint champions

Yasaratne Gamage

Mercantile Cricket Association 'A' team and SSK Cricket Academy emerged joint champions when the final was abandoned due to rain, in the Roy Dias School of Cricket invitation tournament worked off at MCA ground yesterday.

The inaugural 25-over limited over tournament was played among 12 junior cricket teams.

SSC and Cric Hit battled for the third place where SSC beat the latter by 23 runs which was decided on net run rate due to rain in the last stage of Cric Hit innings.

SSC who won the toss opted to bat first where they scored 69 all out in 21.1 overs. Mihindu Semasinghe 11, and Delon Peris 12 reached double figures while Cameron Duruge and Shaquile Balasuriya did the bowlers part for Cric Hit by taking 3 and 2 wickets respectively.

Cric Hit on the other hand seemed lethargic as they lost 8 wickets for 32 runs in 20.3 overs. Kamal Nanayakckara took 2 wickets while Nipun, Daniel and Aminda took one wicket each for SSC. The end result came on net run rate as rain stopped play where SSC won by 23 runs.

Organizers had to abandon the final due to wet conditions on the field and as a result the tournament ended with MCA and SSK emerging joint champions.

Ayana Siriwardena of CCC who collected 226 runs was adjudged the best batsman in the tournament. Nipun Samarasinghe won two titles as the player of the tournament and as the best bowler for his 2 for 23 runs and 16 wickets.

Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga and ex Sri Lanka vice Captain Roy Dias gave away the trophies and certificates.