Cricket: MCA Division ‘C’ semi-finalists found

Standard Chartered Bank, Commercial Leasing, Airport & Aviation Services and LB Finance ‘B’ advanced to the semi-finals of the 4th Prestige Automobile sponsored, BMW-Hyundai Trophy MCA Division ‘C’ 50-over League Tournament.   The two semi-finals will be held on Saturday (17) as Standard Chartered Bank take on Commercial Leasing at MCA and Airport & Aviation Services meet LB Finance ‘B’ at Thurstan ground.   In the quarter-finals worked off last weekend, Std. Chartered Bank went home to lunch, beating Colombo Dockyard by 7 wickets; Commercial Leasing scored a convincing 5-wicket win over Dialog Axiata ‘A’; Airport & Aviation crushed People’s Leasing & Finance by 6 wickets and LB Finance ‘B’ snatched a heart stopping 1-wicket win over Nations Trust Bank ‘A’.   Std. Chartered Bank opening bowler, Tharindu Fernando (10-1-28-6) and the reliable, slow medium pacer Selwyn Jamion (9.2-1-40-4) completely took the wind off the Colombo Dockyard sails to sink them to a paltry 69 runs in 19.2 overs.   The match was all over by 12.30 pm, as the Bankers reached 71 for 3 in 12 overs.   After paceman, Priyantha Chandrasekera (9.4 - 42-5) restricted Dialog Axiata ‘A’ to 202 runs in 47.4 overs, Jason Perera (58 not out in 94 balls inclusive of a six and nine fours) and Krishan Kanchana (45) with solid batting performances, guided Commercial Leasing to a 5-wicket win.   Opening batsman, Yohan Dissanayake struck a swashbuckling 88 runs in 56 balls, inclusive of seven mighty sixes and nine sizzling fours to propel Airport & Aviation to a 6-wicket win over People’s Leasing & Finance with 21 overs to spare.   In the winning process, Dissanayake was engaged in a 114-runs opening stand with Tharaka Dushyantha (35).   Yohan Dissanayake currently holds the highest individual batting performance with his 157 runs in 88 balls against Std. Chartered Bank in a league stage match.   Opening batsman, Pubudu Fernando carried his bat out with a brave 90 not out in 115 balls, inclusive of a six and eight fours to carry unbeaten group ‘B’ leaders, LB Finance ‘B’ to a 1-wicket win over NTB ‘A’.   NTB ‘A’ bowlers, Maneesha Thanthrigoda (3 for 40) and Thivanka Dabare (4 for 38) bowled well in tandem to place LBF ‘B’ in a precarious situation – 176 for 9, needing 27 runs to win.   The gritty, Pubudu Fernando held the fort with last man, Saman Dissanayake to nose through to win - 205 for 9 in 46.3 overs.   Weekend’s match results:   1st QF at MCA: Standard Chartered Bank beat Colombo Dockyard PLC by 7 wickets CDL 69 all out (19.2) (L.H. Weeraratne 36, Tharindu Fernando 6/28, Selwyn Jamion 4/40) SCB 71 for 3 (12) (Charith Satharasinghe 25, A. Henricus 25n.o, D.S. Kasun 2/17)   2nd QF at Thurstan grounds: Commercial Leasing beat Dialog Axiata ‘A’ by 5 wickets Dialog Axiata ‘A’ 202 all out (47.4) (Dilhara de Silva 41, C. Jayabandara 27, Heshan Wijesinghe 22, Priyantha Chandrasekera 5/42, Jason Perera 2/16, Madura Sanjaya 3/25) Commercial Leasing 204 for 5 wickets (39) (S. Maduranga 25, Jason Perera 58n.o, Krishan Kanchana 45, Dilhara de Silva 3/39)   3rd QF at MCA: Airport & Aviation beat People’s Leasing & Finance by 6 wickets PLC 180 all out (40.1) (P. Gunasekera 35, Sameera Sandaruwan 57, A. Lakmal 2/35, D.K. Lakmal 2/35) A&A 181 for 4 wickets (28.3) (J. Dushantha 35, Yohan Dissanayake 88, P. Gunasekera 4/58)   4th QF at Thurstan ground: LB Finance ‘B’ beat Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ by 1 wicket NTB ‘A’ 202 all out (46.3) (N. Pathirana 22, D. Samarakkody 20, Jayanga de Silva 46 n.o, Rukshan Perera 42, J. Arampath 5/29, P. Kulathunga 2/50, Akila Dhananjaya 2/42) LBF ‘B’ 205 for 9 wickets (46.3) (Pubudu Fernando 90n.o, Akila Dhananjaya 28, Lasantha Perera 39, M. Thanthirigoda 3/40, Thivanka Dabare 4/38, Rukshan Perera 2/42)