|
Jeewan
steers Sampath to championship
16th
Singer-MCA Premier League k/o final
By
M Naushad Amit
After an early collapse all rounder Jeewan
Mendis who won the Man-of-the-match award guided Sampath
Bank to a 48-run win over East West Marketing in the
16th Singer-MCA Premier League knock out final played
at the Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.
Mendis struck a valiant 62 not out to pull them out
from a shaky 43-4 to a challenging total of 202-8 in
a rain reduced final restricted to 37 overs a side and
then grabbed two priceless wickets for 18 runs to pick
up the award.
Sampath Bank made the correct decision to bat first
on a flat wicket after winning the toss but their top
order was put in disarray by left-arm fast bowler Ruchira
Perera who ended up taking four wickets for 49.
Mendis who came in at the fall of the fourth was associated
in a vital partnership for the fifth wicket with skipper
Thilina Kandamby (36). He also received support from
the tail that helped Sampath Bank recover. While adding
an unbeaten 44 runs for the eighth wicket with Nuwan
Perera (9 n.o.), Mendis brought up his half century
with a six off a reverse sweep in the final over of
the innings. He followed this with another towering
six and a boundary to remain unbeaten on 62 scored off
72 balls with the aid of two fours and two sixes.
Chasing a challenging target of 203 runs with an asking
rate of 5.94 per over, East West Marketing received
early shocks when paceman Malinga Surappullige bowled
an excellent opening spell of 6 overs to claim three
wickets for 7 runs. From 29-3, the East West Marketing
middle order batsmen Angelo Mathews and skipper Jeevantha
Kulatunga batted sensibly to steady the innings. But
Mathews who was well set was unfortunately run out by
Kandamby who made no mistake to capitalise on the situation.
East West Marketing was consoled to some extent with
the domination of TM Sampath who hit 70 runs off 62
balls. Sampath was the only batsman from the losing
side to make progress with the bat while his team-mates
failed to deliver the goods falling victims at regular
intervals. He hit six boundaries and two huge sixes
during his lone battle. Sampath was last out as East
West Marketing was dismissed for 153 with 6 overs to
spare.
Jeewan Mendis received the Man-of-the-Match award in
the final and a few other awards were given away based
on overall performances in the tournament. Sajeewa Weerakoon
of HNB was named Best Bowler of the tournament, Janashakthi’s
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara the Best Batsman of the tournament
and young all rounder Sachith Pathirana of Janashakthi
was named Man-of-the-Series. Chairman of Singer Sri
Lanka, Hemaka Amarasuriya was the chief guest.
Sampath Bank 202-8 (37) (Jeewan Mendis 62 n.o., Thilina
Kandamby 36, Dilruwan Perera 24, Ruchira Perera 4/49,
Dhammika Prasad 2/48).
East West Marketing 153 (30.2) (TM Sampath 70, Malinga
Surappullige 3/21, Dilhara Lokuhettige 2/53, Jeewan
Mendis 2/18).
|
