Madawa and Kasun pilot HNB to victory over John Keells
Skipper Madawa Warnapura (86) and opener Kasun Abeyratne (88) associated in an unbroken 126 run fourth wicket stand as HNB ‘A’ recorded seven wicket win over John Keells Group A in the Mercantile Super Premier League final cricket fixture played at the MCA grounds on Sunday.
It was a fantastic batting display by Kasun and Madawa to win the Championship for HNB. The two teams earlier met at the league round John Keells defeated HNB by 32 runs but in the final HNB dominated the game.
Kasun Abeyratne the wicket keeper batsman scored 88 in 79 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes while Madawa Warnapura played more aggressively to collect 86 runs in just 32 with 7 fours and equal number of sixes all over the ground.
The game reduced to 30 overs per side due to bad weather while John Keells scored 218 for 6 wickets in their allotted 30 overs.
The wicket keeper batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama made 52 in 45 balls with 3 fours and a six while all rounder Sachintha Jayatilleka scored 63 in 43 balls with a four and 6 sixes build up their innings.
HNB chasing the target of 219 runs reached it in 3.3 overs to spare with seven wickets in hand.
The leg spinner Duvindu Tillekaratne of John Keels who finished with 12 wickets in the tournament with best figures 5 for 15 in the semi final against Sampath Bank was adjudged the best bowler of the tournament while Madawa Warnapura the skipper who played a anchor role to grab the MCA Super Premier League title was named man of the final for his heroic innings.
Meanwhile Dilshan Munaweera the dashing stroke maker and useful bowler won the best batsman as well as man of the tournament awards. Munaweera scored 280 runs while captured 14 wickets during this tournament but unfortunately was the member of the losing HNB side.
Chief scores
John Keells 218 for 6 in 30 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 22, Sadeera Samarawickrama 52, Sachintha Jayatilleka 63,Ahan Wickramasinghe 26*, Dilshan Munaweera 3/31
HNB’ A 219 for 3 wickets in 26.3 overs Kasun Abeyratne 88*, Dilshan Munaweera 23, Madawa Warnapura 86*, Ishan Jayaratne 1/32, Duvindu Tillekaratne 1/30, Sachintha Jayatilleka 1/30.