Weather gods were kind; cricket back on track
At last the weather gods were kind to see Standard Chartered Bank, Commercial Leasing, Airport & Aviation Services and LB Finance ‘B’
A Dialog Axiata batsman caught behind
advanced to the semi-finals of the 4th Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, ‘BMW – Hyundai’ Trophy, MCA ‘C’ division 50 Over League Tournament 2015.
In the quarter-finals worked off last weekend, Standard Chartered Bank were home for lunch, beating Colombo Dockyard by 7 wickets; Commercial Leasing Co. scored a convincing 5 wickets win over Dialog Axiata ‘A’; Airport & Aviation crushed People’s Leasing & Finance by 6 wickets and LB Finance ‘B’ snatched a heart stopping one wicket win over Nations Trust Bank ‘A’.
Standard Chartered Bank opening bowler, Tharindu Fernando (10-1-28-6) and the reliable, slow medium pacer Selwyn Jamion (9.2-1-40-4) completely took the wind off the Colombo Dockyard sails to sink them to a paltry 69 runs in 19.2 overs. The match was all over by 12.30 pm, as the Bankers reached 71 for 3 in just 12 overs.
After paceman, Priyantha Chandrasekera (9.4-1-42-5) restricted Dialog Axiata ‘A’ to 202 runs in 47.4 overs, Jason Perera (58 not out in 94 balls inclusive of a six and nine fours) and Krishan Kanchana (45) with solid batting performances, spearheaded Commercial Leasing to a five wickets win.
Opening batsman, Yohan Dissanayake struck a swashbuckling 88 runs in 56 balls, inclusive of seven mighty sixes and nine sizzling fours to propel Airport & Aviation to a six wickets win over People’s Leasing & Finance with 21 overs to spare.
In the winning process, Dissanayake was engaged in a 114-runs opening stand with Tharaka Dushyantha (35).
Yohan Dissanayake currently holds the highest individual batting performance with his 157 runs in 88 balls against Std. Chartered Bank in a league stage match.
Sanjaya Silva of Commercial Leasing in action - Pix by Ranjith Perera
Opening batsman, Pubudu Fernando carried his bat out with a brave 90 not out in 115 balls, inclusive of a six and eight fours to carry unbeaten group ‘B’ leaders, LB Finance ‘B’ to a one wicket win over NTB ‘A’.
NTB ‘A’ bowlers, M. Thanthrigoda (3 for 40) and Thivanka Dabare (4 for 38) bowled well in tandem to place LBF ‘B’ in a precarious situation – 176 for 9, needing 27 runs to win. The gritty, Pubudu Fernando held the fort with lastman, Saman Dissanayake to nose through to win – 205 for 9 in 46.3 overs.
Weekend’s Match Results – all quarter finals
At MCA / Standard Chartered Bank beat Colombo Dockyard PLC by 7 wickets
CDL 69 all out (19.2) (L.H. Weeraratne 36, Tharindu Fernando 6/28 Selwyn Jamion 4/40)
SCB 71 for 3 (12) (Charith Satharasinghe 25, A. Henricus 25 not out, D.S. Kasun 2/17)
At Thurstan College Grounds/Commercial Leasing Co. beat Dialog Axiata ‘A’ by 5 wickets
Dialog Axiata ‘A’ 202 all out (47.4) (Dilhara de Silva 41, C. Jayabandara 27, Heshan Wijesinghe 22, Priyantha Chandrasekera 5/42, Jason Perera 2/16, Madura Sanjaya 3/25)
Commercial Leasing 204 for 5 (39) (S. Maduranga 25, Jason Perera 58 not out, Krishan Kanchana 45, Dilhara de Silva 3/39)
MCA/Airport & Aviation Services beat People’s Leasing & Finance PLC by 6 wickets
PLC 180 all out (40.1) (P. Gunasekera 35, Sameera Sandaruwan 57, A. Lakmal 2/35, D.K. Lakmal 2/35)
A&A 181 for 4 (28.3) (J. Dushantha 35, Yohan Dissanayake 88, P. Gunasekera 4/58)
At Thurstan College Grounds / LB Finance ‘B’ beat Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ by 1 wicket
NTB ‘A’ 202 all out (46.3) (N. Pathirana 22, D. Samarakkody 20, Jayanga de Silva 46 not out, Rukshan Perera 42, J. Arampath 5/29, P. Kulathunga 2/50, Akila Dhananjaya 2/42)
LBF ‘B’ 205 for 9 (46.3) (Pubudu Fernando 90 not out, Akila Dhananjaya 28, Lasantha Perera 39, M. Thanthrigoda 3/40, Thivanka Dabare 4/38, Rukshan Perera 2/42)
The Semi finals line up:
1st semi-final at MCA: Standard Chartered Bank Vs Commercial Leasing Co
2nd semi Final at Thurstan College grounds: Airport & Aviation Services Vs LB Finance ‘B’