All systems ready for MCA final on Sunday | Sunday Observer

All systems ready for MCA final on Sunday

3 April, 2022
Chief Executive Officer of Fairfirst Insurance Sandeep Gopal (right) presents the sponsorship to the president of the Mercantile Cricket Association Nalin Wickramsinghe
Chief Executive Officer of Fairfirst Insurance Sandeep Gopal (right) presents the sponsorship to the president of the Mercantile Cricket Association Nalin Wickramsinghe

The Mercantile Cricket Association ‘F’ Division 2022 Championship will come to an end today at the MCA ground when Hayleys Group ‘B’ meet Cash X Group in the 25 over final at 10 am. The Championship is sponsored for the fourth consecutive year by Fairfirst Insurance for the Fairfirst Trophy.

Fairfirst Insurance presented its sponsorship at a media briefing on Tuesday with MCA president Nalin Wickramasinghe and the Chief Executive Officer of Fairfirst Insurance Sandeep Gopal gracing the occasion.

Gopal addressing the media said that according to the history of the MCA it has served to develop cricket in Sri Lanka for the past 110 years while shaping the careers of many to reach international level.

“When considering these factors our Company decided to back the MAC to continue with its goal further. That is the reason we came forward to sponsor this tournament and hope to continue it in the future too which will not only benefit MCA but the cricketers at large,” said Gopal.

Wickramasinghe said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic sporting activities were hampered for almost two years, but there were many requests from MCA members to continue cricket at MCA. “Giving them a good hearing the Committee after a lengthy discussion decided to conduct our tournaments. We at MCA are happy to note that at a crucial time Fairfirst Insurance agreed to partner us in conducting our programs,” said Wickramasinghe.

The 2022 tournament got off to a flying start with 20 firms coming forward to play with two newcomers Atire Group and Cash X Group for the first stage of the league which began on February 12 and concluded on March 17.

Group ‘A’ consisted of Emerchemie NB, Atire Group, Ansell Textiles, Dialog Axiata, Cash X, Arpico and Technomedics International while Group ‘B’ had Cargills Bank, Mac Holdings, Orient Finance, Ansell Lanka, Nations Trust Bank,and David Pieris Group of Companies ‘B’. In Group C were Sanpiling, Hayleys Group ‘B’, Siam City Cement, Sri Lanka Telecom, South Asia Gateway Terminal and VS Information Systems.

Hayleys Group ‘B’ and Cash X will play the final on Sunday April 3 at the MCA ground.

Unbeaten, Hayleys Group ‘B’ team go out as firm favourites to win the title.

On Sunday, the spotlight will fall on Hayleys opening batsman, Maduranga Zoysa who is in belligerent form with two centuries under his belt (148 vs Sri Lanka Telecom and 101 not out vs Technomedics International.

Zoysa is no stranger to the MCA, being a former MCA Cricket Academy coach and Hayleys Premier League captain two years ago.

Hayleys ‘B’ maintained an unbeaten record throughout the League and Round Two to make their way to the final. They beat San Piling by 170 runs, beat Sri Lanka Telecom by 102 runs, beat South Asia Gateway Terminal by 9-wickets, beat Siam City Cement by 32 runs and beat VS Information Systems by nine wickets in the league stage.

They beat Dialog Axiata by 30 runs in the quarter finals and routed Technomedics International by seven wickets in the semi final.

The top performers for Hayleys in Group ‘B’ were Maduranga Zoysa (8 innings, 342 runs), Damitha Kalugalage (7 innings, 197 runs and 11 wickets for 124 runs), Sahan Nanayakkara (17 wickets for 120 runs) and Mihindu Ariyaratne (9 wickets for 101 runs).

Cash X Group from Group ‘A’ moved to the final though losing one game to Technomedics International by two wickets on the DLS method and won against Arpico by seven wickets, beat Dialog by 8 wickets, beat Emerchemie NB by five wickets, beat Ansell Textiles by 61 runs and had a no-decision against Atire in the league stage.

They beat Ansell Lanka by 44 runs in the quarter final and their semi final match against Siam City Cement was awarded to them.

The top performers for Cash X were Reshana Seneviratne (8 innings, 326 runs), Chamath Fernando (7 innings, 228 runs and 12 wickets for 215 runs), Damindu Reshan (8 innings, 195 runs and 8 wickets for 142 runs), Anjana Kaluarachchi (8 wickets for 165 runs), Devinda Tillakaratne (10 wickets for 158 runs), Malith Thilanka (8 wickets for 146 runs) and Sasindu Weerasekera (8 wickets for 190 runs)

The teams:

Hayleys Group RC ‘B’ (from) Shanon Lee (Captain), Lakshina Rodrigo (Vice Captain), Pramodth Fernando, Sanath Aponso, Mahesh Deepal, Gihan Gunathilake, Maduranga Zoysa, Tashik Perera, Sahan Nanayakkara, Dimantha Kalugalage, Chemila Obeysekere, Mihindu Ariyaratne, Ashan Seneviratne, Ishara Perera, Uditha Lakmal, Shashika Kaushalya, Tharindu Lakmal, Lahiru Pathirana, Malin Godahewa, Yasitha Weerasinghe, Indeera Bandara and Nalaka Warusawithana

Cash X (from): Chamath Fernando (Captain), Devinda Tillekaratne (Vice Captain), Anjana Kaluarachchi, Reshana Seneviratne, Malith Thilanka, Daminda Reshan, Sasindu Weerasekara, Maleesha Wathugedara, Amayuru Kaluarachchi, Shashika Malwana, Subodha Silva, Lahiru Akalanka, Mohammed Umair, Akila Dilshan and Rishitha Kalhara

 

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