Bad weekend for Sampath Bank

Sampath Bank suffered their second successive defeat of the weekend when they lost by 26 runs to Access Group in a Mercantile 'A' division cricket match played at Moors SC grounds on Sunday.

Having bowled out Access for 196 in a rain restricted match reduced to 30 overs, Samapth were on course to pull off a comfortable win being placed at 143 for 3 in the 24th over. However, a remarkable batting collapse saw them lose the remaining seven wickets for just 27 runs and be all out for 170 in the 28th over.

Two former Sri Lanka bowlers caused the Sampath batting collapse. Fast bowler Pramodya Wickremasinghe took three for 22 and off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage had figures of three for 24.

Indika de Saram struck three sixes in his 33 ball knock for 39 for Access while W.M.G. Ramyakumara (42 off 36 balls) and Anil Rideegammanagedera (31 off 31 balls) also contributed substantially.

In another rain-curtailed match played at the Bloomfield grounds, Ranga Dias slammed the fastest fifty of the present tournament to help Janashakthi coast home to a comfortable 125-run win over Singer.

Dias slammed five sixes and two fours in reaching his unbeaten half-century off 23 balls as Janashakthi rattled up 193 for 6 off 39 overs. M.S. Sampan made a top score of 78 off 119 balls.

Singer provided little opposition as they were shot out for 68 in 33 overs with medium-pace bowlers Mohamed Abdeen (3/18) and Malintha Warnapura (3/5 off five overs) turning the screws.

John Keells gave an improved display to recover from their 173-run defeat at the hands of HNB on Saturday, to beat East West by six wickets at the NCC grounds.

Jehan Mubarak, the Sri Lanka under 19 cricketer hit a sparkling 77 of 78 balls inclusive of two sixes and six fours to steer John Keells past the required target of 163.

Poor ground conditions at Colts, prevented a ball being bowled in the match between Hatton National Bank and Seylan Bank which ended in a no-result.