The Mercantile Cricket Association’s annual Open six-a-side tournament 2018 for the CDB Trophy has attracted 69 teams from affiliated firms.
This is the highest number entering the tournament since its inception according to the president of MCA Roshan Iddamalgoda while addressing the Media on Wednesday.
Nalin Wickremasinghe Secretary MCA and Chairman, Tournament Committee stated that Citizens Business Development Finance had come forward to sponsor the tournament for the second successive year.
The teams will be grouped in to two tiers as ‘A’ and ‘B’ with 21 teams in tier A playing on turf and the balance 48 teams playing on matting wickets.
The matches are to be played on September 7, 8 and 9.
Tier ‘A’ matches are scheduled to be played at the MCA ground and Colts ground while on day two the 48 tier ‘B’ teams will be seen in action at the MCA, Wesley College, St. Joseph’s College and Army (Mattegoda) grounds from 08.30 am. On the final day the tier ‘A’ quarter finals will be conducted at the Colts ground and the finalists will travel to the MCA for the final. Tier ‘B’ pre-quarter finals will be conducted at MCA and St. Joseph’s College ground and once those matches are completed they too will be back at the MCA for the final round of matches on the last day of the tournament.
Last year MAS Silueta won the tier ‘A’ segment beating MAS Unichela while Citizens Development Business won the tier ‘B’ segment, beating Maliban Biscuits.
CDB has consented to offer five special awards for the best batsman, best bowler, batsman who hits most number of sixes, man of the final and man of the tournament.