Commercial Credit too good for Standard Chartered
The man of the final, Malith Fernando in action - Pix by Ranjith Perera
A rock-solid, unbeaten century by middle order batsman, Malith Fernando (121 not out in 110 balls, with 2 sixes and 15 fours) guided Commercial Credit and Finance (CCF) ‘B’ to a resounding 89-runs victory over Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) in theFinal of the 6th Prestige Automobile sponsored, ‘BMW/Hyundai’ Trophy, MCA ‘C’ Division 50-Over League Tournament 2017, concluded at the MCA Grounds last Saturday.
Malith Fernando walked in with the CCF ‘B’ score at 84 for 3 in 17 overs, anchored the batting and remained unbeaten till the end- 300 for 7 in 50 overs.
Fernando’s path to his 100 had partnerships of 45 runs in 44 balls for the 5th wicket with Janaka Dayananda (22), 55 runs in 72 balls for the 7th wicket with his skipper, Praneeth Wijesena (24) and an unfinished 89 runs in 48 balls for the 8th wicket with Damith Mendis (27 not out)
The Bankers catching and ground fielding left much to be desired, as CCF ‘B’ scored at will, with 100 runs coming in the last 10 overs.
For SCB, 300 was not an easy target to get, but not impossible, as all 11 were batsmen. It was just a case of putting their heads down and building partnerships, as Malith Fernando did for CCF ‘B’.
The Bankers top order, with two centurions in Charith Satharasinghe and Aruna Henrickson, together with Bhanuka Adeesha, Skipper Selvyn Jamion and Shakthi Siriratne though in good nick, failed to get off the blocks, leaving SCB completely stranded at 79 for 5 in 17 overs.
With the scoreboard reading 100 for 7 in 21 overs, No. 8 Hiran Rajapaksa (56 in 50 balls with 1 six and 9 fours) and No. 9, Raveen Perumal (33 not out in 82 balls with 3 fours) showed the top order where they missed out, as they collared the CCF ‘B’ attack for 70-runs in 80 balls for the 8th wicket, which, though face-saving, could not stave off defeat, as SCB folded up for 211 in 46.5 overs
It was easy pickings for Match Referee, K.H. Nandasena to award Man of the Matchto Malith Fernando of CCF ‘B’.
The other 3 Special awards, based on performances up to the Semifinals were Best Bowler- Sachin Bandara [CCF 'B' (17 wickets for 170 runs)], Best Batsman- Trishan Rodrigo [People’s Leasing Finance (302 runs including a century)] and Man of the Series- Aruna Henrickson [SCB (290 runs with 1 century and 2 half-centuries, and 12 wickets)].
Awards were presented by Chief Guest Niranga Peiris [Sales Director- Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd], Guest of Honour Ms Tharanga Vithanage [Head of Sales- Hyundai Lanka (Pvt) Ltd], MCA Vice President H.U.U. Buddhima, MCA Gen.Sec. Nalin Wickremasinghe, and MCA Tournament Committee Chairman Sujeeva de Silva.
SCORES
CCF ‘B’ 300 for 7 wickets (50) (Malith Fernando 121 n.o., Suchira Fernando 47, Anura Dias 21, Janaka Dayananda 22, Praneeth Wijesena 24, Damith Mendis 27 n.o.; Raveen Perumal 2/53)
 SCB 211 all out (46.5) (Hiran Rajapaksa 56, Raveen Perumal 33 n.o., Charith Satharasinghe 29, Madusha Jayasinghe 21; Suranga Salinda 2/37, Sachin Bandara 3/29, Janaka Dayananda 2/45)
Raveen Perumal of SCB took two wickets