Com. Leasing ends unbeaten reign of Vallibel Finance
Pic by Ranjith Perera
Commercial Leasing Co. ended the unbeaten reign of the high riding Vallibel Finance, in the 13th Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, sponsored, ‘Elephant House Lemonade’ Trophy MCA Division ‘D’ 40-over League Tournament 2016, quarter-finals worked off last weekend. Along with giant killer, Commercial Leasing the other three teams that advanced to the semis after winning their quarters were Central Finance, Commercial Credit and Finance ‘B’ and Kanrich Finance ‘B’. Group ‘C’ winner, Vallibel Finance, after six wins on the trot in the league stage met their waterloo, as they lost fair and square by 96 runs to Commercial Leasing, who was placed third in Group ‘A’.
The match winners for Commercial Leasing were Madura Sanjaya, who top scored with a fluent 66 in 53 balls, inclusive of two sixes and six fours and their bowling trio, P. Chandrasekera (5.3-1-30-2), Samith Gamage (6-0-24-2) and Chinthaka de Silva (4-0-16-2). On the same day the unexpected happened once again when the match between Asian Alliance Insurance and Central Finance Co. ended in a tie. The deadlock was broken by bowling a ‘Super Over’, where Central Finance went through, winning by 12 runs. Opener Suchira Fernando (71 in 53 balls inclusive of 13 fours) and No.4 batsman, Malith Fernando (97 not out in 80 balls inclusive of a six and 15 fours), steered Commercial Credit and Finance ‘B’ to a convincing 6 wickets win with nine deliveries to spare, over NDB Bank.
G. Mihiranga (31) gave good support to Malith Fernando, as the pair put on 100 runs in 94 balls for the fourth wicket to clinch the game – 259 for 4 in 38.3 overs. The reliable opening pair, Dhanushka Eddussooriya (90 in 76 balls with three sixes and 10 fours) and Dhanushka Sandaruwan (46) gave the bankers a flying start, putting on 155 runs in 160 balls to help NDB, batting first to finish with 255 for 6 in 40 overs. A brilliant all round performance by Shiral Senaratne (92 in 75 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and seven fours and 4 for 10 in 2 overs), propelled Kanrich Finance ‘B’ to a huge 179-run win over Hilton Colombo Residences. The semi finals will be worked off this weekend between Commercial Leasing Co and Central Finance at MCA and Commercial Credit and Finance ‘B’ and Kanrich Finance ‘B’ at Thurstan ground.
Quarter-finals Results
1st QF at Thurstan: Commercial Leasing beat Vallibel Finance by 96 runs
Commercial Leasing 223/7 (40) (Madura Sanjaya 66, K. Kanchana 34, J. Karunatillake 32, Adeesha Nanayakkara 4/46)
Vallibel Finance 127 (32.3) (H. Lakmal 27, Yasas Alwis 21, P. Chandrasekera 2/30, S. Gamage 2/24, C. de Alwis 2/16)
2nd QF at MCA: Central Finance beat Asian Alliance in the Super Over after match ended in a tie
AAI 188/9 (40) (Gayan Chamara 62, Denesh Fernando 40, Isuru Sampath 30, I. Salinda 5/51, Vikum Costa 2/29)
Central Finance 188 (37.5) (Kushan Silva 48, Amila Gayan 39, Chandrika Amarasinghe 3/30, C. Boteju 2/25, J. Buddhika 2/40)
Super Over: Central Finance 20/0 (M. Attanayake 13 not out, over bowled by Charitha Boteju); Asian Alliance 8/0 (Over bowled by Nimesh Fernando)
3rd QF at MCA: Commercial Credit ‘B’ beat NDB Bank by 6 wickets
NDB Bank 255/6 (40) (Dhanushka Eddussooriya 90, Dhanushka Sandaruwan 46, V. Pathirana 35, S. Salinda 2/45)
Commercial Credit ‘B’ 259/4 (38.3) (Malith Fernando 97 n.o., Suchira Fernando 71, G. Mihiranga 31, S. Dhananjaya 2/45)
4th QF at Mattegoda: Kanrich Finance ‘B’ beat Hilton Colombo Residences by 179 runs
Kanrich‘B’ 286/9 (40) (Shiral Senaratne 92, Kasun Chamara 47, Osanda Fernando 57, T. Dhananjaya 3/28, L. Desa 2/48)
HCR 107 (20) (K. de Soysa 45, Thishan Peiris 3/22, Shiral Senaratne 4/10, T. Gamage 2/32)