MCA ‘D’ division 40 Over League Tournament 2024 Melwire Rolling snatch one-wicket win over NTB ‘A’

Melwire Rolling (Pvt) Ltd., led by 35-year-old veteran Mahendran Seshankumar, bagged their very first Mercantile Cricket title, the 4th CBL-Munchee Trophy – MCA ‘D’ division 40 Over League Tournament 2024.

The tournament, sponsored by Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., concluded at the MCA Grounds on Saturday (6), which saw Melwire Rolling snatch a heart-stopping one-wicket win over Nations Trust Bank PLC ‘A’.

The match was dominated by bowlers, where 19 wickets fell for a mere 242 runs under 74 overs.

The bankers who won the toss and opted to bat were restricted to 121 runs in 39.2 overs by Melwire Rolling’s varied bowling attack of Malinda Perera (2/12), Sachin Senanayake (3/28), Aravinth Rajendran (2/26), and Jason Charles (2/11). Melwire Rolling, chasing an easy target of 122 runs in 40 overs, lost opener Pasindu Sasanka for a no-score.
Diminutive No. 3 batsman Sanesh Nadeeshan (50 in 80 balls, inclusive of six fours), who anchored the batting, was engaged in two partnerships: 47 runs in 59 balls for the second wicket with Lester Jayaweera (24) and 41 runs in 74 balls for the sixth wicket with Ishan Hansika (15).

NTB’s opening bowler Madushan Chathuranga (5/31) turned the match upside down by getting rid of Sanesh Nadeeshan and skipper Mahendran Seshan Kumar, as Melwire Rolling slid to 113/9 in 32 overs; their last pair, Malinda Perera and Sachin Senanayake, hung on grimly as they took them over the line, 122/9 in 34.2 overs.
Match Referee TH Wijewardena picked Sanesh Nadeeshan from Melwire Rolling as the Man of the Match.

Best Bowler: Madushan Chathuranga (NTB ‘A’) - 187 runs, 19 wickets

Best Batsman: Nadun Pathirana (NTB ‘A’) - Best Batsman (281 runs, inclusive of one century and two half-centuries)
Man of the Series: Lakshina Rodrigo (Hayleys Group ‘B’) - 209 runs, 18 dismissals behind the stumps, also bagged 4/23)

At the post-tournament awards presentation, the trophies, medallions, cash awards, and CBL gift packs were given away by the chief guest, Kushani Peiris, General Manager, Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Mahesh de Alwis, President, MCA, Rohan Somawansa, General Secretary, MCA, and Lakshan de Silva, Chairman, Tournament Committee.

Chief Scores:

NTB ‘A’ 121 in 39.2 overs (Nadun Pathirana 18, Vikum Kalhara 25, Lashane Rodrigo 24, Malinda Perera 2/12, Sachin Senanayake 3/28, Aravinth Rajendran 2/26, Jason Charles 2/11)
Melwire Rolling 122/9 in 34.2 overs (Lester Jayaweera 24, Sanesh Nadeeshan 55, Ishan Hansika 15, Madushan Chathuranga 5/31, Anjula Fernando 2/23)

BM