A belligerent, 30-ball knock of 67 runs, inclusive of two sixes and 10 fours by middle order batsman, Suleka Ranasinghe, steered HNB Grameen Finance to a heart stopping 1-wicket win with four deliveries to spare, over Asia Asset Finance, in the 15th David Pieris Group of Companies sponsored ‘DPGC Challenge Trophy MCA Division 'E', 30-over League Tournament 2017 final played at the MCA ground last Saturday (1).
Asia Asset Finance, who won the toss and batted, finished with a respectable 188 runs in 30 overs (RPO 6.27), built on a 45 ball; 62 runs, fourth wicket stand between, Shashrika Pussegolla (29) and Dennis Rodrigo (45 in 77 balls, inclusive of 4x6s and 2x4s).
HNB Grameen’s three medium pacemen, Suleka Ranasinghe (6-27-2), Dinusha Fernando (6-39-2) and Amila Herath (5-28-2) were the pick of the pack.
HNB Grameen in their run chase were poorly placed at the half way stage of the game having mustered only 69 runs for the loss of two wickets, shackled by Asia Asset bowlers, Promod Fernando, Nimesh Perera and Nimesh Fernando.
At the fall of the fourth wicket at 73 (16.1 overs), Suleka Ranasinghe went in and took the bowling by the scuff of its neck, and accelerated the score to 155 for six in 24.2 overs.
AAF opening bowler, Vinod Perera, who got hammered for 19 runs in the first two overs that he bowled, came back in the 25th over, got Ranasinghe clean bowled and followed up with two more wickets in the 27th over to give his team a sniff of victory (164 for 8 in 26.2 overs).
The spectators got to the edge of their seats as Grameen needed 25 runs in 22 balls with only two wickets standing.
No eight batsman, Dhanushka Sandaruwan (22 not out in 11 balls inclusive of a six and 3 fours ) bravely spear headed the final charge, as he hit Shashrika Pussegolla for a massive six over long off and followed up with a sizzling boundary through point in the first two balls of the last over, giving his team the first MCA title with one wicket in hand and four balls to spare (190 for 9 in 29.2 overs).
Match Referee, Chandana Mahesh had no hesitation of naming Suleka Ranasinghe from HNB Grameen, as his Man of the Match.
The other three special awards, based on performances in the group and elimination stages, went to Dinesh Seneviratne from Mercantile Investments Best Bowler (8 matches, 44 overs, 204 runs, 20 wickets, Avg. 10.2 , Econ. 4.68, best 5 for 20 in 06 Vs. Nawaloka Group ); Iresh Shamika Fernando from Finlays Colombo, Best Batsman ( 06 innings, 399 runs, Avg. 66.5, inclusive of 1 century and 3 half centuries, best 124 Vs. Noyon Lanka); and Shashrika Pussegolla from Asia Asset Finance, Man of the Series (Batting: 07 innings 377 runs , 03 not outs, Avg. 94.25 with 1 century and 2 half centuries, best 132 Vs. Bimputh Finance; bowling: 7 matches, 36.3 overs, 196 runs, 20 wickets, Avg. 9.8, Econ 5.4, best 6 for 18 in 06 Vs. LOLC).
Asia Asset Finance 188 all out (30) (Nimesh Perera 38, S. Pussegolla 29, Denesh Rodrigo 45, Suleka Ranasinghe 2/27, Amila Herath 2/28, Dinisha Fernando 2/39)
HNB Grameen Finance 190 for 9 wickets (29.2) (Muditha Fernando 25, Suleka Ranasinghe 67, Dhanushka Sandaruwan 22n.o, Vinod Perera 4/35, Nimesh Fernando 2/27)
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