HNB Grameen, Expolanka clash for title and stay unbeaten
HNB Grameen Finance and Expolanka Group both carried their unbeaten records to the final with comfortable semifinal wins over Central Finance and MAS Bodyline respectively, in the 15th Ceylon Cold Stores PLC. sponsored ‘Elephant House Lemonade’ Trophy – MCA ‘D’ Division 40-Over League Tournament 2018, continued last weekend.
HNB Grameen's Dinusha Fernando top scored with 77 runs - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
In the first semi-final played at Thurstan ground HNB Grameen Finance beat Central Finance by 134 runs. HNB Grameen won the toss and piled up 239/9 in 40 overs, propelled by a swashbuckling innings by Dinusha Fernando (77).
Central Finance found the going tough, and were shot out for 105 runs in 26.5 overs, having little to answer to HNB Grameen’s varied bowling attack of Suleka Ranasinghe (2/12), Dhanushka Sandaruwan (2/16) and Tharindu Wijesinghe (2/5), winning by a huge margin of 134 runs.
In the second semi-final played at Mattegoda Expolanka Group beat MAS Bodyline by 8 wickets. Expolanka’s spin twins, Tharindu Roshan (4/12) and Madawa Fernando (3/11) delivered a severe body blow to MAS Bodyline, as they succumbed to a paltry 101 runs in 33.3 overs. Expolanka shed little sweat on reaching the target (105/2) in 18.2 overs, thus winning by 8 wickets.
The final between HNB Grameen and Expolanka will take place today at the MCA Grounds, commencing 10.00am.
- Semi-final 1: HNB Grameen beat Central Finance by 134 runs
Grameen Finance 239/9 (40) (Dinusha Fernando 77, Muditha Fernando 44, Suleka Ranasinghe 24; Chirath Nirantha 2/32, Imesh Fernando 2/70)
Central Finance 105 all out (26.5) (Tharaka Gunathilaka 31, R.A. Duminda 20; Suleka Ransinghe 2/12, Dhanushka Sandaruwan 2/16, Tharinda Wijesinghe 2/5)
- Semi-final 2: ExpoLanka beat MAS Bodyline by 8 wickets
MAS Bodyline all out 101 (33.3) (Tharinu Thiwanka 29, S Vithanage 23; Tharindu Roshan 4/12, Madawa Fernando 3/11)
Expolanka Group 105/2 (18.2) (Lahiru Madushanka 55)