Janashakthi wins MCA ‘D’ division final

Rain nor the HSBC’s ‘Charge of the light brigade’ could prevent Janashakthi Group ‘B’ led by Isuru Ariyaratne scoring a 55-run win and walking away with the ‘Elephant Lemonade’ trophy in the Ceylon Cold Stores sponsored, MCA Division ‘D’ 50 overs League tournament final concluded at the MCA grounds on Saturday.

Janashakthi ‘B’ put into bat made a formidable total of 258 runs in 48.4 overs, the innings anchored by a responsible knock by middle order batsman, Sanjaya Perera (64 runs in 80 balls including 7 fours, 4 sixes). Perera was associated in two half century stands, of 52 for the third wicket with Isuru Ariyaratne and 56 for the fourth wicket with Dharshana Ariyapperuma. There was a further stand of 55 runs for the sixth wicket between Chandrika Amarasinghe and Duminda Roshan (47 n.o. in 50 balls with 2 fours, 3 sixes). The 22 wides and 10 no-balls bowled by HSBC were a bonus.

HSBC took up the challenge well and was off to a flyer putting on 20 runs in just 13 balls when the rains came down and halted play at 2.25 pm. As the rain ceased around 3.15 pm, the Janashakthi team and their supporters tucked up their trousers and got onto the ground and helped MCA ground staff with the mopping up operations.

The match re-commenced at 4.05 pm with HSBC given the revised target of scoring 177 runs to win in 26 overs. HSBC continued to keep the score board ticking to bring up their hundred in just 10 overs with skipper Sheehan Wijetunga leading the way with a belligerent 46 runs in 18 balls with five sizzling fours and three superbly struck sixes.

After Wijetunge was out, going for another big hit, at 103 the introduction of Chaminda Haturusinghe saw the HSBC middle order cave in under pressure and fold up for 122 in the 20th over.

Match referee cum adjudicator Sudarma de Silva named Janashakthi’s Sanjaya Perera as man-of-the-match.

The other special awards, based on performances in the league stage went to Madushan Fernando of David Pieris Motor Company (best batsman), Denham Cramer of Christy Lanka (best bowler) and Damith Ratnayake of Hayleys Group (man-of-the-series)

Ceylon Cold Stores sponsored the tournament for the 5th successive year, their Vice-president/Head of Beverage, Srikanth Selladurai (Chief Guest) and Brand Activation Manager, Nalin Jayasuriya (Guest of Honour) along with MCA Officials, Acting President, Neil Perera, General Secretary, Ashley Ratnayake and Chairman Tournament Committee, Wasanthalal Fernando were associated at the awards presentation which followed the final.

Scores:
Janashakthi Group ‘B’ 258 (48.4) (Binara Arumathanthri 23, Isuru Ariyaratne 23, Sanjaya Perera 64, Dharshana Ariyapperuma 28, Duminda Roshan 47 n.o., Nigel Adams 2/35).

HSBC (revised target of 177 in 26 overs due to rain) 122 (19.4) (Charitha Karunaratne 21, Sachintha Cooray 28, Shehan Wijetunge 46, Chaminda Hathurusinghe 3/25, Binara Arumathanthri 2/30, Ruwan Sampath 2/19). [LW]