Dramatic win for Central Finance
NDB batsman Nimesh Fonseka who scored 66 n.o. drives one to the fence. Pix by Ranjith Perera
Central Finance pulled off a dramatic two wickets win over Bodyline in the ongoing 14th ‘Elephant House Lemonade’ Trophy – MCA ‘D’ Division 40 over League Tournament 2017, continued last week-end. Bodyline batting first was restricted to 184 in 38.2 overs by opening bowler Chanaka Jayanetti who finished with impressive figures of 7.2-0-1-21-5.
Central Finance chasing 185 runs in 40 overs to win (RPO 4.62 ) was looking down the barrel, reeling at 41 for 5 in the 5.4 overs Central Finance was rescued by their No. 7 batsman, Amila Gayan who stood bravely on the burning deck, as he scored 43 runs in 48 balls inclusive of a six and four fours, associated in two half century partnerships – 51 for the 6th wicket in 46 balls with Chanaka Jayanetti (22) and 50 for the 7th wicket in 57 balls with Rasika Amarasinghe (35 not out).
The 21 wide balls send down by Bodyline also came in handy for Central Finance
The efforts of opening batsman Vishma Neranjan (81 in 67 runs inclusive of two sixes and 13 fours) and opening bowler, Tharindu Jayaratne (8-2-34-4) for Bodyline, thus went a waste.
The first hat-trick of the tournament was performed by left arm leg spinner, Chandima Bandara (0.5-0-0-4) from Citizens Development Business against Hilton Colombo Residencies; the hoteliers shot out for 87 runs, chasing a mammoth 287 runs by CDB.
NDB's bowler A. Segar claimed 4 for 28
Isuru Udana’s valliant batting performance (85 in 93 balls, inclusive of 12 boundaries) for Delmage Group did not bear fruit, as Ceylinco Insurance pulled off a close 19 runs win. Right medium fast bowler, Nalinda Channa’s effort (8-2-17-5) for David Pieris Motor Co., too went a bagging as Kanrich Finance ‘B’ went from rags to riches with a 80 runs win.
Kanrich Finance ‘B’ recovered from 126/8 in 30.5 overs to finish with 209/9 (40) via Akila Dhananjaya (45 not out in 61 balls) and Udith Madushan (52 in 35 balls with 4 sixes and 5 fours), who put on 80 runs for 9th wicket in 53 balls.
This week-end’s matches, marked the end of the league stage of the tournament after 24 matches; the group leaders were AMW Group from (Group ‘A’), Kanrich Finance ‘B’
(Group ‘B’), Citizen Development Business (Group ‘C’) and Expolanka Group (Group ‘D’ ) -all teams remained unbeaten.
The knock-out/pre-quarter finals will be worked of this week-end as follows:
AMW Group Vs. Bodyline at MCA; Softlogic Holdings Vs. Delmage Group at Campbell Park; Heshan Flexi Vs. Central Finance at Panadura; Ceylinco Insurance Vs. David Pieris Motor Co. at Mattegoda and NTB ‘B’ Vs. NDB Bank at Kotahena; Citizens Development Business Vs. Hemas Group at Thurstan; Hilton Colombo Residencies Vs. Kanrich finance ‘B’ at MCA and Brumby’s International Vs. Expolanka Group at Campbell Park.
At MCA: NDB Bank beat Brumby’s International by 6 wickets
Brumby’s-157 (38.4) ( D. Dayalan 50, K. Fernando 3/22, T. Jayasuriya 2/28, A. Segar 4/28)
NDB Bank-160/4 (29.1 ) (Nimesh Fonseka 66 not out, S. de Mel 36 not out)
At Campbell Park: Expolanka Group beat NTB ‘B’ by 7 wickets (Match reduced to 37 overs a side, due to wet ground)
NTB ‘B’-153 (36.3) (N. Dhananjaya 57, D. Gamage 2/26, V. Aravinda 2/23, C. Jayasinghe 2/13, K. Fernando 2/40)
Expolanka-154/3 (23.2) (P. Shavin 32, L. Lakshitha 46, H. Sashthri 44 not out, N. Saputhanthri 2/29)
At Mattegoda: Kanrich Finance ‘B’ beat DPMC by 80 run.
Kanrich Finance ‘B’-209/9 (40) (M. Sakuranga 30, A. Dhananjaya 45 not out, U. Madushan 52, Nalinda Channa 5/17) DPMC-129 (27.3) ( A. Elabodage 30, M. Sakuranga 3/9, H. Devinda 2/10)
At Thurstan: Softlogic Holdings beat Hemas Group by 62 runs
Softlogic-238 /9 (40) ( W. Senanayake 58, Vinoth Kumar 77 not out, G. Crusz 3/50, A. Weerasinghe 2/29)
Hemas-176 (37.2) (A. Weerasinghe 69, Vinoth Kumar 3/48, A. Ranasinghe 2/17) At Pannipitiya: AMW Group beat Heshan Flexi by 65 runs
AMW-265/8 (40) (P. Perera 31, S. Dewage 41, D. Weeraratne 56, R. Sureshchandra 47, L. Prasanna 3/28, S. Senanayake 2/72)
Heshan Flexi-200 (31.4) ( S. Jayasekera 51, M. Lakshan 51, T. Dharshana 4/38, P. Perera 2/34, R.P. Silva 3/35)
At MCA: Citizens Development Business beat Hilton Colombo Residencies by 200 runs
CDB-287/6 (40) (A. Saman 38, C. Wickramasinghe 37, Hasitha Perera 78, S. Gunasekera 45, P. Thilanka 41 not out, D. Perera 2/38)HCR-87 (18.5) (B. Silva 3/8, Chandima Bandara 4/0)
At Moratuwa: Ceylinco Insurance beat Delmage Group by 19 runs.
Ceylinco-208/9 (40) (S. Lakshan 37, P. Dilshan 32, M. Liyanapathirana 43, P. Fernando 2/52, S. Ravi 3/17)
Delmage-189 (38.5) (Isuru Vidana 85, N. Fernando 3/24, S. De Mel 2/43, A. Fernando 2/20)
At Mattegoda: Central Finance beat Bodyline by 2 wickets.
Bodyline-184 (38.2) (V. Niranjan 81, A. Ishan 35, I. Chandrasiri 30, Chanaka Jayanetti 5/21, R. Amarasinghe 2/41, Nimesh Fernando 2/24)Central Finance-187/8 (36.2) (A. Gayan 43, R. Amarasinghe 33, G. Ratnakumara 2/41, T. Jayaratne 4/34)