Assetline Leasing and LB Finance ‘B’ in final
Assetline Leasing and LB Finance ‘B’ booked their berths to the Final of the 4th Stafford Motor Co. ‘Honda’ Challenge Trophy, MCA Division ‘D’ 25-Over League Tournament, when they won their semi-final matches last weekend at the MCA grounds.
Shan Galappaththi smashed 64 runs to help Assetline Leasing reach the final - Pix by Ranjith Perera
With the finals scheduled to be played at the MCA grounds this weekend the curtain comes down of the MCA League tournaments for 2014.
In the preliminary rounds too Assetline Leasing and LB Finance looked good to be the finalists as both teams comprised with batsmen with fighting qualities and bowlers who are capable of shattering any good batting line-up.In the 1st semi-final, played in the morning Assetline Leasing batting first, put up a challenging total of 161 for 6 in their allotted 25-overs, aided by a superb third wicket stand of 104 runs between Gayanga Roshan (49) and Shan Galappaththi (64 in 45 balls, inclusive of four sixes and seven fours).
Sadeera Samarawickrama cracked 100 off 74 deliveries to help LB Finance reach the final
Toll Global gave a spirited chase, but unfortunately fell short by 12-runs. A brilliant bowling spell by Sanjaya Yapa Bandara, who snapped up 5 for 16 in five overs never allowed Toll Global batsmen to settle and were dismissed for 149.
In the 2nd semi-final played in the afternoon, Sadeera Samarawickrama cracked a 74 ball century, inclusive of a six and thirteen fours, to spearhead LB Finance “B” to a comfortable 68 runs win over Star Lanka Shipping.
Samarawickrama (100) was associated in 99-runs opening stand with Charith Fernando (31), which propelled LBF “B” to post 207/6 in 25 overs.
Star Lanka Shipping in reply was never in the hunt, as the LBF’s varied bowling attack of Shainda Mendis (2/30), Janaka Arampath (2/22) and Saman Dissanayake (2/27) got on top to restrict them to 139/8 in 25 overs.
Assetline’s Sanjaya Bandara took a five-for helping his side record a dramatic win against Toll Global