Brandix ‘B’ maiden winners of fairfirst Insurance Trophy
Defeat Akbar Bros. by 13 runs
Brandix Essentials ‘B’ defended a moderate total through their penetrative bowling attack of Heshan Kumara, Sathira Fernando and Tharaka Silva, to lift the new fairfirst Insurance Trophy, overcoming Akbar Bros. by 13 runs, in the MCA ‘F’ Division 25-Over League Tournament 2018 Final, at the MCA Grounds, last weekend.
Brandix winning the toss and taking first lease of the wicket, never recovered after a shaky start- reeling at 39/3 in 10.4 overs- managed to score 126 runs with one delivery to spare.
Brandix middle order batsmen, Skipper Madushanka Ratnayake 21, Shashika Inesh 22 and Tharaka Silva 21, were defiant against the Akbar Bros.’ hostile pace attack of Kamal Prasanga, Buddhika Prabath (5-0-19-2) and Varuna Gunawardena (5-0-23-2). Spinner Jeevan Priyankara joining the attack late at the 19th over, caused problems to the late order batsmen, as he finished with the best figures of 2.5-0-17-3.
Akbar Bros. chasing 127 runs in 25 overs win at a little more than 5 RPO, were upended by paceman, Heshan Kumara (5-0-22-3) and spinner, Sathira Fernando (5-0-18-3). They lost wickets regularly to have half the side back out for 60 runs in 16 overs, leaving their skipper Ravichandra Urendren, who opened the innings, trying to save defeat.
Urendran who carried his bat out with a cautious 53 not out in 73 balls, inclusive of 6 fours, made a valiant effort with his No. 8 batsman, Buddika Prabath (21 in 17 balls with 2 sixes and a four) to salvage the innings, but to no avail, as they went down by 12 runs (114/ 9 in 25 overs)
Action from the final - Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
Man of the Match- Sathira Fernando (Brandix) 21 runs in 18 balls with 3 fours and 3/18 in 5 overs.
The other 3 Special awards, based on performances through the Tournament, except the final-
Best Bowler- (Akbar Bros.)- W.A. Kamal Prasanga (36-0-183-18 wkts) Best Batsman- Harsha Udaya Kumara (Palliyaguruge Group) 6 innings 359 runs with 4 half-centuries Man of the Series- Charinda Fernando (Allianz General Insurance) 291 runs and 10 wickets.
The awards were given away by National Head, Broker Business Development, Sanjaya Siriwardena (Chief Guest), National Head, Key Accounts Management, Sanjaya Attanayake (Guest of Honor) – both from Fairfirst Insurance, President Roshan Iddamalgoda, General Secretary, Nalin Wickremasinghe andChairman of Cricket Development Committee, Mahesh de Alwis-all from MCA.
Scores
- Brandix Essentials ‘B’ 126 (24.5 overs) (Sathira Fernando 21, Madusanka Ratnayake 21, Shashika Inesh 22, Tharaka Silva 21, Sampath Kumara 15; Buddhika Prabath 2/19, Varuna Gunawardena 2/23, Jeevan Priyankara 3/17)
- Akbar Bros 114/9 (25 overs) (Ramakrishna Urendren, 53 not out, Buddhika Prabath 21; Heshan Kumara 3/22, Sathira Fernando 3/18)