Hirdaramani Group, Stafford Motors clash for top honours
Krishantha Aruna top scored for Hirdaramani
Hirdaramani Group meet Stafford Motors today at the MCA Grounds in the final of the 2nd Commercial Credit & Finance PLC powered MCA ‘F’ Division 25-Over League Tournament, with play commencing at 10 am.
Weather will hold the key in today’s Final. MCA will keep 70% of the ground covered, while the other redeeming factor is that, the match will be extended to the afternoon session, in case of a rain interruption. Each team must bat at least 8 overs for a result.
It will be a grudge battle for Hirdaramani Group, as they lost to Stafford Motors by 34 runs in their earlier meeting played in the same Group on April 22 at Panadura.
In the League stage, both teams finished with 4 wins and 1 loss, and an equal number of points. Hence, the Group ‘B’ standings were determined by the superior net run rate. Stafford Motors with 1.3 took top spot, while Hirdaramani with 1.03, took 2nd berth.
Stafford Motors started off badly, losing to Janashakthi by 4 wickets, but there onwards, they moved on to winning ways, beating Union Bank by 106 runs, Hirdaramani by 34 runs, MAS Linea Aqua by 23 runs and Palliyaguruge Group by 2 runs on D&L method.
Hirdaramani’s beat MAS Linea Aqua by 9 wickets, beat Janashakthi Insurance by 4 wickets, beat Union Bank by 6 wickets, beat Palliyaguruge Group by 7 wickets and lost to Stafford Motors by 34 runs.
Hashan Lakshitha
The top 16 teams from the 5 Groups advanced to Round 2. Stafford Motors was Ranked No.5, while Hirdaramani was Ranked No.8.
In the elimination-Round matches, Hirdaramani, who were drawn into the top half, beat WNS Global (No.9) by 67 runs in the pre-quarterfinals, beat Janashakthi Insurance (No.16) who eliminated top seed, Hayleys Group ‘B’ by 3 wickets in the quarterfinals, and beat Palliyaguruge Group (No.11) who eliminated Access Group (No.6) by 8 wickets in the semifinals. Stafford Motors, drawn into the bottom half, beat Total Amber (No.12) by 14 runs on the D&L method in the pre-quarterfinals, beat Textured Jersey ‘B’ (No.2) by 54 runs in the quarterfinals and beat Brandix Essentials ‘B’ (No.3) by 64 runs in the semifinals.
Both Captains led from the front in the semifinals; Stafford Motors Captain Geeth Karunaratne (from Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala) performed the 2nd hat-trick in the tournament (5-0-27-4) and Hirdaramani Captain Krishantha Aruna (from Thakshila MMV, Horana) top-scored with a well compiled 65 runs in 45 balls, inclusive of 3 sixes and 8 fours.
Other top performers in the tournament are: Hirdaramani’s right-arm medium pace bowler, Anwaz Sahran (32.4 overs-156 runs-17 wkts); Stafford Motors’ middle order batsman Asantha Singappuli (8 innings-210 runs-1 half-century) and spinner, Amila Mendis (34.4 overs-191 runs-16 wickets).
Match Referee-Adjudicator for the Final will be Varuna Waragoda.
TheTeams:
Hirdaramani Groupfrom: Krishantha Aruna (Captain ), Umesh Sachin (Vice Captain), Kavindu Madushanka, Hasan Lakshitha, Damindu Thiranjan, Udesh Wilegoda, Maheepa Madhushanka, Viraj Rathdella, Maduranga Niroshan, Mohamed Sahran, Kavindu Eranga, Rajitha Asanka, Dinesh Chaminda, Prashan Dinusha, Ranga Maheepala, Shanilka Dindumal, Maduranga Dilshan, Dulaj Harshana and Sathira Weerasinghe.
Stafford Motor Co.from: Geeth Karunaratne (Captain), Amila Mendis, Rathika Raj, Asantha Singappuli, Sajeewa Vishan, Dammika Kumara, Supin Wijesundara, Shanaka Sampath, Dushan Sulakshana, Vikum Peiris, Kalpa Peshan, Janith Maduwantha, Anjalo Eranga, Mark Madawa Dilruk, Ravindra Lal, Harshana Dharmakeerthi, Charindu Ginendra, Gayan Peiris, Nash Casie Chetty and Dakshina Madumanth