MCA Cricket: LB Finance beat Standard Chartered Bank to win Division ‘C’ title

Superb allround performances by Akila Dhananjaya and Gihan de Silva spearheaded LB Finance ‘B’ to a fine 79-runs win on the D/L method, over Standard Chartered Bank in the final of the fourth Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, ‘BMW-Hyundai’ Cup, MCA Division ‘C’ 50-Over League Tournament 2015, concluded at the MCA grounds last Saturday (24).   The umpires, Sena Nandiweera and Susil Chandrasiri suspended play at 5:00pm due to bad light, with Standard Chartered Bank hopelessly placed at 188 for eight wickets in 37 overs, 79 runs behind the D/L par score.   The umpires called off play at 5.30 pm.   LBF ‘B’ won the toss and batted.   Skipper Thushara Alwis, who opened the innings laid the foundation with a power packed half century (51 runs in 39 balls, inclusive of a six and 08 fours).   The inform batsman, Gihan de Silva (55 runs in 79 balls inclusive of 08 hits to the ropes) and former Sri Lanka ODI player, Akila Dhananjaya (71 runs in 80 balls with 08 fours) further consolidated the innings putting on 90 runs for the fifth wicket.   With useful contributions coming from Gayath Mendis (30) and Lasantha Perera (36 not out), LBF finished with a formidable 294 for 9 in 50 Overs.   The LBF would have finished with a much lesser total if the bankers held on to the easy catches that came their way.   At least eight chances were grassed.   The half centurions, Gihan de Silva and Akila Dhananjaya were let off in their early stages, to make matters worse, the bankers gave away 34 runs in extras, including 24 wide deliveries.   Std. Chartered Skipper, Sylwin Jamion finished with four for 71 in 10 overs.   The unlucky bowler was, Bhanuka Adeesha.   The Bankers with an asking rate of 5.9 runs per over, bravely took the bull by the horns.   Openers, Charith Satharasinghe (67 in 81 balls inclusive of a six and 07 fours) and the tireless, Bhanuka Adeesha (70 in 70 balls, with 10 hits to the ropes) were associated in an entertaining 140 runs stand in 23-overs (138 balls).   At this stage, they were well ahead of the D/L par score.   The match turned on its head when medium pacer, Lasantha Perera got the vital wicket of Satharasinghe and diminutive spinner Gihan de Silva got rid of Adeesha and the reliable, Aruna Hendricson in quick succession.   From around 4.30 pm the light kept on fading and so were the wickets, as the bankers were desperately trying to keep abreast with the D/L requirement.   The menacing, Akila Dhananjaya (9/4/25/3) accounted for the prize scalp of the SCB, skipper, Sylwin Jamion (01) and Gihan de Silva (6/34/3) was responsible of getting rid of the former captain, Tharindu Fernando (16).   Match Referee, former Cambrian, Pemlal Fernando after deliberating, picked Gihan de Silva from LB Finance ‘B’, as his Man of the Match (55 runs and 3/34), as he felt that the turning point of the match was initiated by him.   The other three special awards, based on performances in the league and the knock-out stages went to Pramodaya Gunasekera from Peoples Leasing and Finance (Best Bowler, 52 – 226-20); Yohan Dissanayake from Airport and Aviation Services (Best Batsman, 05 innings 305 runs with a top score of 157 Vs. SCB) and Sameera Sandaruwan from People’s Leasing and Finance (Man of the Series, 06 innings, 241 runs with 03 half centuries & 10 wickets for 200 runs).   The final was followed by the post tournament awards presentation, given away by the Chief Guest, Senior Sales Manager, Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., Pradeep Ramanathan, Guest of Honor, Head of Marketing, Hyundai Lanka, Prasan de Silva, President, Gamini Wickramasinghe, General Secretary, Rohana Dissanayake and Chairman, Tournament Committee, Mahesh de Alwis (all from MCA).   LB Finance ‘B’ 294 for 9 wickets (50) (Thushara Alwis 51, Gayath Mendis 30, Gihan de Silva 55, Akila Dhananjaya 71, Lasantha Perera 36n.o, Sylwin Jamion 4/71)   Standard Chartered Bank 188 for 8 wickets (37) when bad light halted play (Bhanuka Adeesha 70, Charith Satharasinghe 67, Tharindu Fernando 16, Gihan de Silva 3/34, Akila Dhananjaya 3/25)