Milan steers 3DH International Group to MCA ‘E’ Division title

A determined knock of 76 runs in 72 balls, inclusive of two sixes and eight fours, by captain, Milan Abeysekera, steered 3DH International Group to their first MCA cricket title, as they nudged Fairfirst Insurance by three wickets, with five deliveries to spare, in the 19th David Pieris Group of Companies sponsored, ‘DPGC’ Challenge Trophy – Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA), ‘E’ division 30 Over League Tournament 2022, final at the MCA Grounds.

Fairfirst Insurance sent into bat, were tied down by 3DH veteran left arm off spinner, Denam Cramer (06-27-02) and right arm off spinner, Kolitha Nayanananda (06-27-03) as they failed to finish their quota of overs being all out for 180 runs in 28.1 overs. Their inning was anchored by their opening batsman, Inesh Fernando who scored a responsible 72 runs in 51 balls, inclusive of three sixes and eight fours.

3DH International started off badly losing their openers Johanne de Zilva (06) and Nilantha Wijekoon (00) for 17 runs. Captain Abeysekera, playing one drop, steadied the innings with a 52 runs stand for the fourth wicket in 45 balls with Shevon Fonseka (13, 101 for 4).

Fairfirst fought tooth and nail and got back to the game, bagging two quick wickets, that of captain Milan Abeysekera, trapped LBW by Dulip Silva and he followed up by getting Sachintha Mahindasinghe stumped at 147 (147 for 7).

3 DH now needing 34 runs to win in five overs with three wickets in hand, crossed the line, as their eighth wicket pair, Vishan Gunasekera (16 not out) and Kolitha Nayanananda (13 not out) bravely defied the rampaging Fairfirst Insurance pace attack , Sampath Perera and Ishara Perera (05-27-03), with an unbroken 36 runs stand.

MCA appointed Match Referee, Imran Thahir had easy pickings by adjudicating, 3DH International Group captain, Milan Abeysekera as his Man of the Match.

The other three special awards, based on performances up to the Semi-Finals, went to Anura Pradeepitha Jayasinghe from MBSL Insurance (best bowler / 7 matches, 36 overs, 124 runs, 15 wickets) and Rashmika Mevan Ranasinghe from Softlogic Finance (Best Batsman and Man of the Series/7 innings 317 runs and 34 overs, 169 runs, 14 wickets).

The awards were given away by the Chief Guest, Executive Director, David Pieris Motor Co., Jayantha Ratnayake, and Guest of Honour, Director /CEO, Assetline Leasing Co., Ashan Nissanka, Nalin Wickramesinghe (President) , Tarindra Kaluperuma (Gen. Secretary) and Lakmal de Silva (Secretary Tournament Committee all from MCA).

Chief Scores:

Fairfirst Insurance

180 in 28.1 overs (Inesh Fernando 72, Preshein Fernando 18, Isuru Sampath 29, Ashen Shamika 23; Denam Cramer 2/27, Nilantha Wijekoon 2/25, Kolitha Nayanananda 3/27)

3DH International Group

183 for 7 in 29.5 overs (Milan Abeysekera 76, Dineth Jayakody 19, Vishan Gunasekera 16 not out; Ishara Perera 3/27, Dulip Silva 2/14)