Nations Trust Bank, Melwire Rolling reach MCA ‘D’ division cricket final

Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ and Melwire Rolling advanced to the final of the fourth Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., (CBL) sponsored, MCA ‘D’ division, 40 over League Tournament 2024.

The semi-finals were played on Saturday (December 30).

In the top half semi-final, at St. Joseph’s College grounds, Darley Road, Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ eliminated the unbeaten, Hayleys Group ‘B’ as they beat the latter by three runs.

Chasing a moderate total of 180 runs in 40 overs, Hayleys Group ‘B’ were sitting pretty with 158 for five in 34 overs but dramatically collapsed, losing their last five wickets for 18 runs and were all out for 176 runs in 39.4 overs, with NTB’s right arm medium paceman, Diluka Madampage ripping through the late middle order, finishing with impressive figures of 8-32-5.

In the bottom half semi-final at Dharmapala Vidyalaya grounds, Pannipitiya, Melwire Rolling cruised to a comfortable seven wickets win with 15 overs to spare over Central Finance

The top performers for Melwire Rolling were, bowlers, A. Rajendran (4 for 15) and Jason Charles (3 for 26) and their opening batsman P. Sasanka, who carried his bat out with a sedate, 36 runs, inclusive of a six and three fours and their number four batsman Senal Samaratunga, who hit a brilliant, 88 runs in 35 balls, inclusive of four sixes and 14 fours.

Match Results

Nations Trust Bank beat Hayleys Group by three runs

Chief Scores:

NTB ‘A’

179 for 9 in 40 overs (D. Karunaratne 30, I. Novod 20, A. Fernando 42, V. Kalhara 41; D. Kalugalage 3/20, C. Chathurya 2/31, L. Rodrigo 2/31)

Hayleys Group ‘B’

176 all out in 39.4 overs (C. Hendawitharana 29, Lakshina Rodrigo 58, K. Kumarasinghe 39, Diluka Madampage 5/35)

Melwire Rolling beat Central Finance by seven wickets

Chief Scores:

Central Finance

154 for 9 in 40 overs (D. Ranasinghe 28, R. Katugampola 37, A. Karunaratne 35, A. Silva 22 not out; A. Rajendran 4/15, Jason Charles 3/26)

Melwire Rolling

158 for 3 in 25 overs (P. Sasanka 36 n.o., Senal Samaratunga 88, N. Fernando 2/24)