LB Finance ‘B’ lifts HondaTrophy in thrilling final
View(s):LB Finance ‘B’ clinched a dramatic last ball win by 3 wickets over Assetline Group of Companies to lift the ‘Honda’ Challenge Trophy in the 4th Stafford Motor Co. (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, MCA Division ‘G’ 25-Over League Tournament final, concluded at the MCA Grounds last weekend.
Manjula Gannile hit 35 and took three wickets for losers
Assetline, winning the toss, put up a challenging total of 175 for 7 in 25 overs.
The architect of the Assetline innings was opening batsman, Gayanga Roshan (41 in 60 balls, inclusive of five fours), who was associated in two productive stands of 60 runs for the third wicket with Sahan Galappaththi (45 in 36 balls, inclusive, of three sixes and two fours) and 50 runs for the fourth wicket with Manjula Gannille (35 in 11 balls inclusive of five sixes). Later Aruna Perusinghe made full use of the slog overs by hitting a quick-fire 35 runs in 17 balls, studded with four sixes and a four
Paceman Shaminda Mendis the pick of the bowlers to claim 2 for 25 for LB Finance ‘B’.
LBF chasing a victory target of 176 in 25 overs (RPO 7.04), started off badly losing their first wicket at 5. The other opener, Gihan de Silva, who was solid as a rock (53 in 59 balls with four fours) got involved in two partnerships of 50-runs for the 2nd wicket with Yashan Samarasinghe (28) and 65 runs for the 3rd wicket with Banuka Ranasinghe (50 in 27 balls inclusive of three sixes and six fours), taking the total to 116 for 3 in 15 overs.
Kasun Perera who bowled the 19th over bagged the valuable wickets of the half centurion Gihan de Silva and skipper, Lakshan Rodrigo to put Assetline back in the hunt.
Gayanga Roshan of Assetline slams one towards the rope - Pix by Ranjith Perera
Assetline, opening bowler Manjula Gannille bowled a brilliant 23rd over, bagging the wicket of Lasantha Perera (12), giving away only two runs, as LBF ‘B’ needed 17 runs in the next two overs.
But, Gannille’s new ball partner, Mayura Dihan, who bowled the penultimate over, got hit for 12 runs, leaving LBF ‘B’ to get four runs with four wickets in hand in the last over. Total excitement engulfed the MCA grounds, as Manjula Gannille had other ideas when he was handed the ball to bowl the last over.
His first ball was a dot, the 2nd ball a wicket, the 3rd another dot and the scores were levelled with a boundary in the fifth ball; LBF’s No.9 batsman, Dushan Malalasena took off like a jack rabbit with the stroke itself to post the winning run.
Match Referee, National Junior selector, U.S.C. Perera picked Banuka Ranasinghe from LB Finance ‘B’, as his man-of-the-match.
The other special awards went to Lakshan Rodrigo from LB Finance ‘B’ (Best Bowler and Man-of-the-Tournament) and Faiz Ahamed from EB Creasey (Best Batsman).
Besides the man-of-the-match award, Stafford Motors offered three more special awards for the final, which were won by Manjula Gannille of Assetline (Most number of sixes), Banuka Ranasinghe from LBF ‘B’ (fastest 50) and Gihan de Silva from LBF ‘B’ (Most Reliable Player).
Executive Director, Stafford Motor Co. (Pvt) Ltd., Tharinda Kaluperuma was the Chief Guest at the final and the post tournament awards presentation was assisted by President, Ashley Ratnayake, General Secretary, Rohana Dissanayake and Chairman, Tournament Committee, Mahesh de Alwis.
| Chief Scores
Assetline Group of Companies 175 for 7 in 25 overs (Gayanga Roshan 41, Sahan Galappaththi 45, Manjula Gannille 35, Aruna Perusinghe 35 not out, Shaminda Mendis 2/25, Yashan Samarasinghe 2/35, Lakshan Rodrigo 2/53) LB Finance B 176 for 7 in 25 overs (Gihan de Silva 53, Yashan Samarasinghe 28, Banuka Ranasinghe 50, Manjula Gannille 3/25, Kasun Perera 3/20) |