An all-round performance by Suwanji Madanayake with a record bowling spell, capturing 7/12 (6.2 overs) and scoring 40 off 32 including five fours, guided the Colombo Masters Cricket Association (CMCA) to beat the Nationalised Services Cricket Association (NSCA) by a resounding 198 runs at the inaugural 50-plus Cricket Tournament 2024. 

The tournament was played at the NSCA Grounds and was organised and conducted by Ceylon Veterans Cricket (CVC).

The CMCA took the first lease of the wicket; openers Wijayananda Perera and Pujitha Gunawardena steadied the innings with an 88-run stand for the opening wicket. 

With the contributions of batters Perera (43), Gunawardena (48), Madanayake (40), skipper Shafeek Rahim (53, retired hurt), Suranjith Dharmasena (13), and Amal Karunarathne (10), the CMCA were able to reach a total of 248/5 in their allotted 40 overs. 

Jagath Samarajeewa, Nishantha Rupasinghe, Palitha Liyanage, Asoka Perera, and Saman De Soysa with a wicket each were the pick of the bowlers for the NSCA.

The NSCA in reply, at one stage, were 17/5 in the sixth over. With the rest of the wickets falling at regular intervals, the NSCA could manage to get only 40 runs on board. Madanayake, the wrecker, captured seven wickets, Riyad Fawsi with two wickets, and Sisila Indraratne with one wicket shared the bowling honours.

Brief scores

CMCA: 238/5 (40) – Wijayananda Perera 43, Pujitha Gunawardena 48, Suwanji Madanayake 40, Shafeek Rahim 53 (retired hurt), Suranjith Dharmasena 13, Amal Karunarathne 10

NSCA: 40 all out (13.2) – Suwanji Madanayake 7/12, Riyad Fawsi 2/14

Result: CMCA won by 198 runs

(The writer is a former national hockey player, veteran soccerite, and coach)