MCA Cricket: Asia Asset Finance win Division ‘G’ title

Nimesh Perera and Nimesh Fernando guided Asia Asset Finance to their first MCA Cricket Title, scoring a convincing 27-run win over Brandix Essentials ‘B’, in the fifth Stafford Motor Co. Ltd., sponsored, ‘Honda’ Trophy, MCA Division ‘G’ 25-over League Tournament final 2015 played at the MCA Grounds on Saturday (15).   Asia Asset Finance sent into bat, got off to steady start, with their openers, Nimesh Fernando (20) and Sashrika Pussegolla (19) putting on 45 runs in nine overs.   With the departure of the openers (both at 45), one drop batsman, Nimesh Perera played the anchor role (59 in 38 balls inclusive of two sixes and seven fours), to spearhead Asia Asset Finance to a respectable 163 in 23.5 overs.   Brandix was horrid on the field; five catches at vital stages were grassed and they pumped up the opponents total by giving away 28 extras.   Brandix chasing 164 runs to win in 25 overs got off to a disastrous start losing both their openers, Surendra Karunakaran and Janaka Prasanna at nine and 13.   One drop batsman, Ruchira Perera stood like a colossus (74 not out in 65 balls, inclusive of five sixes and five fours), while the other batsmen had no answer to the wily spin of Nimesh Fernando who ripped through to finish with five for 23 in 4.2 overs, as Brandix surrendered with 136 in 24.2 overs.   Match referee A.J. Samarasekera named, Nimesh Fernando from Asia Asset Finance as his Man of the Match.   The other three special awards, based on performances in the league and Knock-out stages went to Deutsche Bank’s fast bowler, Praveen Fernando (10 matches, 42.2 overs 159 runs, 22 wickets); LB Finance’s prolific batsman, Pathum Madushanka (eight innings, 541 runs, including 215 and three half centuries) and Shashrika Pussegolla, the man-of-the-tournament.   Asia Asset Finance 163 all out in 23.5 overs (Nimesh Fernando 20, Sashrika Pussegolla 19, Nimesh Perera 59, Dennis Rodrigo 18, Pradeep Kumara 2/5, Janaka Prasanna 2/33)   Brandix Essentials ‘B’ 136 all out (24.2) (Ruchira Fernando 74 not out, Nimesh Fernando 5/23, Nimesh Perera 2/40)