HNB Grameen, Asia Asset Finance meet in Final
Unbeaten HNB Grameen (HNB) and Asia Asset Finance (AAF) will meet in the final of the 15th David Pieris Group of Companies (DPGC) sponsored, ‘DPGC’ Challenge Trophy, MCA ‘E’ Division 30-Over League Tournament 2017.
In the semifinalsplayed last Sunday, HNB scored a hard fought 3-wickets win over Mercantile Investments Ltd. (MIL), while AAF scored a comfortable 51-runs win over DFCC Bank (DFCC).
At the MCA semifinal,MIL, sent into bat, put up a challenging 162/9 in 30 overs, propelled by a belligerent 42 runs in 15 balls, with 5 sixes and 1 four, from Chandika Kumara. Kumara’s 5 sixes were off successive balls of the 14th over bowled by Chamara Ratnayake (2/36) .
MIL strike bowlers Chandika Kumara (2/38) and skipper Dinesh Seneviratne (2/37) bowled well in tandem, as they put HNB on the ropes at 56 for 4 in 10.6 overs, but they got back on track via a valiant 5th-wicket stand of 56 runs in 30 balls between Suleka Ranasinghe (45) and Dinusha Fernando (20). Janith Perera (20) put the finishing touches, as HNB reached their target in 27.4 overs with 3 wickets in hand.
At the Mattegoda semifinal, half-centuries from Eranga Prabath (57 in 54 balls, with 8 fours) and Shashrika Pussegolla (60 in 38 balls, with 1 six and 5 fours) guided AAF, batting first, to go over the 200-run mark (206/9) in their 30 overs. Eranga Prabath laid the foundation for this total with two partnerships- 75 runs for the 2nd wicket, in 77 balls, with Nimesh Fernando (40), and 66 runs for the 3rd wicket, in 40 balls with Pussegolla.
DFCC, in reply, buckled under the accurate bowling of Malith Mahela (3/30). Shashrika Pussegolla (2/29) and Vinod Perera (2/27) to fold up for 155 runs in 28.1 overs. Whilst 9 other DFCC batsmen were shackled by Malith Mahela, Pussegolla and Vinoth Perera, Dhanushka Weerasinghe fought a lone battle with a terrific 72 runs in 48 balls, inclusive of 5 sixes and 6 fours. Chamod Wickramasinghe chipped in with 28 runs.
 SCORES  Â
- HNB beat MIL
by 3 wickets
MIL 162 /9 (30) (Chandika Kumara 42, Dinesh Seneviratne 27, Dasun Jayasundera 21; S. Bandara 3/27, Dinusha Fernando 2/25, S. Ranasinghe 2/14, C. Ratnayake 2/36)
HNB Grameen 163/7 (27.4) (S. Ranasinghe 44, D. Fernando 20, J. Perera 20; Chandika Kumara 2/38, Dinesh Seneviratne 2/37)
- Â AAF beat DFCC
by 51 runs
AAF 206/9 (30)
(E. Prabath 57, Nimesh Fernando 40, Shashrika Pussegolla 60; D. Weerasinghe 3/33, P. Manoj 2/33)
DFCC 155 (28.1) (Dhanushka Weerasinghe 72, C. Wickramasinghe 28; M. Mahela 3/30, Shashrika Pussegolla 2/29, Vinod Perera 2/27)
- Â The final between HNB Grameen, and Asia Asset Finance was played on Saturday, April 1, at the MCA ground.
Chandika Kumara of Mercantile Investments struck five sixes during his cameo knock of 42. However HNB Grameen beat Mercantile Investments in the semi-final clash - Pix by Indika Handuwala