PROFESSIONALS CRICKET LEAGUE 2022
An all-round performance by Vihanga Kalhara (3/33 and 32 off 28 balls) and an unbeaten 37 off 21 balls by skipper Rumesh Madushanaka helped Engineers defeat Lawyers by five wickets to emerge champions of the 2022 Professionals Cricket League at the Colts ground on Sunday evening. In a high scoring game played at the same venue in the morning, Doctors downed Aviators by 24 runs to take third place.
Invited to bat first in the final, the Lawyers were dismissed for 156 with a ball to spare. Akkila Jayasundera anchored the Lawyers innings with 79 off 48 balls (4×7 and 6×5). Vihanga Kalhara and Geeth Sankalpa captured three wickets each.
In the chase Dimuthu Lasintha, Sahan Perera and Vihanga Kalhara made useful contributions to take the Engineers to 110/5 in 15 overs after which Rumesh Madushanka smashed two boundaries and three sixes to clinch the game with 7 balls to spare.
The Professionals Cricket League was first played in 2015. The Lawyers emerged champs in the inaugural game
while in 2017 and 2021 Engineers defeated the Lawyers and the Doctors respectively to win the league. The Doctors too have figured in four of the seven finals played to date and won the league in 2016, 2018 and 2019
In the match played to decide the third place Doctors were propelled to 236/7 with quick fire knocks by Thilina Samarasinghe (33 off 13 balls), Isuru Gunathilake (46 off 22 balls), Rajive Nirmalasinham (29 off 15 balls) , Kasun Wijegunawardena (24 off 9 balls), and Nilupul Bimsara. (32* off 17 balls). in the chase Malith Silva scored an unbeaten 61 off 41 balls while Rizan Rahim scored 46 off 18 balls but the Aviators fell short by 22 runs.
Vihanga Kalhara was adjudged the player of the final and the best batsman of the tournament while Rajiv Nirmalasinham was adjudged the player of the tournament.
Justice Buwaneka Auwihare PC was the Chief Guest of the evening.
Scores –
Engineers
defeated Lawyers by five wickets in the final
Lawyers
156 in 19 5 overs
Ershan Ariyaratnam 27, Akkila Jayasundera 79, Thilina Nupahewa 2/11, Vihanga Kalhara 3/33, Geeth Sankalpa 3/23
Engineers
160/5 in 18.5 overs
Dimuthu Lasintha 21, Sahan Perera 22, Vihanga Kalhara 32, Rumesh Madushanaka 37 not out; Kulunu Rodrigo 2/17
Doctors claimed third place with a 22 run win over Aviators
Doctors 236/7 in 20 overs
Thilina Samarasinghe 33, Isuru Gunathilake 46, Rajive Nirmalasinham 29, Kasun Wijegunawardena 24, Nilupul Bimsara 32 not out; Rizan Rahim 2/35
Aviators
214/6 in 20 overs
Sandesh Gunasekera 39, Chaminda de Zoysa 27, Malith Silva 61 not out, Ranil de Zoysa 23, Rizan Rahim 46; Kasun Wijegunawardena 2/28