MCA ‘F’ Division Final on Saturday

Unbeaten John Keells “B” will have a stiff battle on their hands when they meet the  confident Expolanka Group, in the 3rd Fairfirst Insurance Trophy – MCA “F” division  25 over League Tournament 2020 Final, on Saturday (27) at the MCA Grounds, commencing 10:00 am.

The tournament which commenced way back on September 26, 2020 got derailed on October 7, due to the second wave of the ongoing pandemic and re-commenced on Febauary 6, 2021.
The “E” Division Final was the previous one held at the MCA Grounds on  September 12, 2020.

The finalists enter the decider in contrasting ways, with John Keells “B” engaged in a heart stopper and Expolanka having a walk in the park. 

John Keells “B” chased a total of 162 runs to win in 25 overs against Dialog Axiata, having to get 18 runs in the last over. The batsmen at the wickets were Ishane Perera and Dylan Amarasinghe and the bowler lost his nerve and gave away 21 runs, including two wides, three no balls, a six and 2 fours  (165 for 7 in 25 overs). 

A fire cracker 74 runs in 39 balls inclusive of six sixes and five fours by skipper Heshan Hewanayake paved the way for Expolanka Group to put up a daunting 242 for 5 in 24 overs, which proved too hot to handle for MBSL Insurance, as the folded up for a paltry 48 runs in 19.4 overs thus losing by a massive 194 runs.

John Keells “B” is led by veteran all-rounder, P.K. Abeygunasekera, who is the present MCA Tournament Secretary (141 runs). 

On their unbeaten path to the final John Keells “B” beat DPMC “B” by 58 runs, SAGT by 19 runs, Deutsche Bank by 21 runs and Ansell Lanka by five wickets in the league stage. In the elimination matches, they beat HNB “B” by 28 runs on D&L  (quarter-finals) and Dialog Axiata  by three wickets (semi-finals). 

Their other notable  performers are, Darshana Hewawasam (152 runs),  Duran de Alwis (nice wickets), Dylan Amarasinghe (seven wickets). 

Expolanka  Group is led by versatile all-rounder, Heshan Hewanayake (184 runs and 18 wickets). 

Their path to the final saw them lost to Siam City Cement by three wickets, with victory over Dialog Axiata by five wickets, MBSL Insurance by 219 runs and Janashakthi Insurance by  107 runs in the league stage. In the elimination round, they beat Acme Printing by 174 runs  (Pre-Quarter), Ansell Lanka by 43 runs (Quarter-Final) and MBSL Insurance by 194 runs (semi-final). 
Their  other  top  performers are L.L. Madusanka  (326 runs, the only centurion in the tournament), Roshan Gamage (196 runs) and Trevin Speering (12 wickets). 
In 2019, Fairfirst Insurance took home their own trophy, beating Allianz Insurance by six wickets.  The Match Referee cum adjudicator is Gamini Dissanayake.  (BM)

The Teams
John Keells - P. K. Abeygunasekara (Captain), Ravi Subesinghe, Rusiru De Silva, Shamin Athuraliya, Ishara Rashmika (Wicket-Keeper), Dylan Amarasinghe, Duran De Alwis, Ishane Perera, Dasun Fernando, Praveen Gunawardena, Rusiru Goonetilleka, Russel Thomas, Darshana Hewawasam, Shamintha Fernando, Ishan Jayawardena, Ishan Perera, Vihaga Weerathunga, Prasad Perera 
Expolanka Group - Hashan Hewanayake (Captain), Tharindu Roshan, Lahiru Madushanka, Madawa Fernando, Trevin Lloyd Speering, Nathan Krishan, Rusthun Miskin, Ramzan Rafaideen, Seniru Mapatuna, Mahdi Namiz, Abdul Qadir, Theruka Vithanage,  Mohamed Azmar, Mohamed Insaf, Niroshan John