Roshan match-winner for MCA Veterans

MCA’s general secretary, Roshan Iddamalgoda turned in a sterling all-round performance to steer the MCA Committee Veterans to their third successive win over the Lanka Cavaliers by 11 runs in their 6th annual cricket encounter for the Tyrone de Silva Challenge Trophy at the MCA grounds on Sunday.
When MCA batted first, Iddamalgoda (32 not out in 30 balls, inclusive of 4 fours) was associated in a valuable 55 runs partnership with Mahesh Wijewardena (35 in 16 balls including 4 sixes, 2 fours) for the seventh wicket and when MCA was fielding he broke the back of Lanka Cavaliers batting with an intelligent spell of bowling to finish with 4 for 22 in 5 overs.
Earlier on, Wasanthalal Fernando top scored for MCA with a swashbuckling 50 in 35 balls with 5 sixes and 2 fours, while putting on 52 runs for the fourth wicket with Ishak Sahabdeen.
Lanka Cavaliers chasing a victory target of 198 in 25 overs with an asking rate of 7.92 runs per over was always in the hunt led by old Antonian Pradeep Fernando who banged in a quickfire 57 in just 28 balls inclusive of 5 towering sixes and 5 fours.
The introduction of Iddamalgoda in the 14th over spelt doom for Lanka Cavaliers, as he bagged the vital wickets of Tony Gunawardena (30), Pradeep Fernando, Senaka Angulugaha and skipper Daya Sirisena.
Sri Lanka team’s computer analyst Nalin de Alwis (32 not out) made a valiant effort to keep the match interesting but ran out of fuel at the post.
Special Awards (Best fielder): Rohana Dissanayake from MCA Committee Veterans; (Best Batsman): Pradeep Fernando from Lanka Cavaliers; (Best Bowler and Man-of-the-Match): Roshan Iddamalgoda from MCA Committee Veterans.
The series tally now stands at 3-2 in favour of the MCA committee Veterans with the 2006 encounter ending in a tie.
The match was hosted by Lanka Cavaliers and awards were given away by their senior members Tony Gunawardena, Keerthi Gunaratne and Daya Sirisena along with president MCA, Neil Perera and chief guest, former MCA President Tyronne de Silva. –LW