MCA Premier League champions 2026 Golden Green Plantation
MCA Premier League runners-up 2026 David Pieris Group of Companies
Text and pix by P.D. De Silva
A skipper’s innings of 70 runs off 89 balls by T.M. Sampath and a four fer by Hesham Madushanaka and two wickets by Upul Hettiarachchi helped new comers to the MCA cricket arena Golden Green Plantation defeat David Pieris Group of Companies by four wickets in the final of the MCA-Abans Premier League 2026 and become the first winners of the ‘Abans Challenge Trophy.’
Electing to bat first David Pieris Group of Companies were restricted to 147 runs in 39.3 overs. Santhush Gunathilake who opened innings topped the score card with a fluent 53 off 50 balls with seven fours and a six. Asitha Wanninayake chipped in with 31 off 59 balls. Heshan Madushanka captured four wickets for 11 runs.
Chasing 148 to win, skipper T.M. Sampath scored 70 runs off 89 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes before being stumped off the bowling of Dilanka Auwardt, with score on 122/5. Shammu Ashan and Mohamed Shamaz shared a 25 run partnership to equal the scores at 147/6 and Shammu Ashan scored the winning runs with a four.
The Golden Green Plantation Team led by T M Samapth comprised, Heshn Madushanka, Malith Mihiranga, Mohamed Shamaz, Randika Mihiranga, Upul Httiarachchi, Dhanuja Induwara, Gimadu Malkam, Sammu Ashan , Vikum Sanjaya and Johan Pathirana
With only four teams entering the prestigious MCA Premier Leaguethis year, DFCC Bank secured third spot having a slightly better run rate over Nawaloka Hospitals and were unlucky that the opportunity for securing a spot in the final was washed away as qualifier 2 was abandoned on two consecutive days due to rain.
Special Awards: Best Fielder of the Final: Dhanuja Induwara of Golden Green Plantation (3 catches and 1 run out); Best Bowler of the Final: Heshan Madushanka of Golden Green Plantation (4 wickets for 11 runs); Best Batsman of the Final: Santhush Gunathilake of David Pieris Group of Companies (53 runs off 50 balls); Player of the Final: T.M. Sampath of Golden Green Plantation (70 runs and 1 wicket); Best Bowler of the Tournament: Tharinda Nirmal of David Pieris Group of Companies (13 wickets in 4 innings); Best Batsman of the Tournament: Pavan Pathiraja of DFCC Bank (267 runs in 4 innings); and Player of the Tournament: Lahiru Samarakone of David Pieris Group of Companies (239 runs and 4 wickets)
Scores:
David Pieris Group of Companies 147/10 in 39.1 overs (SanthushGunathilake 53, Asitha Wanninayake 31; Heshan Madushanka 4-11, Upul Hettiarachchi 2-19)
Golden Green Plantation 151/6 in 30.3 overs (T.M. Sampath 70; Dilanka Auwardt 2-35)
