Asia Asset Finance meet Hirdaramani in MCA ‘E’ Div. 25-over League final

Asia Asset Finance will make another attempt to get their hands on the glittering DPGC Challenge Trophy, which slipped through their fingers by a whisker last year, as they take on Hirdaramani Group in the 16th MCA ‘E’ Division 25-over League Tournament final, sponsored by the David Pieris Group of Companies, on 9 June at the MCA grounds from 10.00 a.m. 

The final, which was earlier scheduled to be played on 26 May, was postponed due to bad weather. Asia Asset Finance lost to HNB Grameen Finance by one wicket in the 2017 final while Hirdaramani Group, got an automatic promotion to this division by winning the 2017 MCA ‘F’ division title, beating Stafford Motors by two wickets.

Asia Asset Finance path to the final: League stage - beat McLarens Holdings by 11 runs, beat Trelleborg Lanka by 62 runs, lost to Brandix Essentials by 13 runs, beat Commercial Bank ‘B’ by 20 runs, beat UB Finance by one wicket and beat HSBC ‘A’ by five runs on the DL Method. KO stage beat LOLC by 10 runs in the quarterfinals and beat Maliban by 20 runs in the semifinals. 

Their top performers are all-rounders Dinuk Sulakshana Hettiarachchi (183 runs and 21 wickets for 185 runs) and Nimesh Perera (181 runs and 18 wickets for 193 runs).

Hirdaramani’s path to the final: League Stage - lost to DFCC Bank by 48 runs, beat Melwire Rolling by 10 wickets, beat Assetline Leasing by 97 runs, beat MAS Active by 91 runs, beat Ansell Lanka by seven wickets and beat Eagle Logistics by 12 runs. KO stage: beat MAS Siluets ‘B’ by eight wickets in the quarterfinals and beat McLarens by 55 runs in the semifinals. 

Their top performers are centurion Lakshitha Batagodage (319 runs), Insaf Faris (169 runs), Thiranjan Silva (163 runs), Gihan Weerasinghe (18 wickets for 170 runs) and Anwaz Saharan (14 wickets for 141 runs). 

Gamini Dissanayake is the Match Referee cum Adjudicator.

DPMC Vehicle Sales Director Shanaka Jayaweera will be the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony; DPMC Vehicle Sales Divisional Manager Lakmal de Silva and GM Operations Assetline Leasing Ajantha Premasiri will grace the closing ceremony as the Guest of Honour and Chief Guest respectively.   

The teams

 Asia Asset Finance: Sisira Mudalige (Captain), Nimesh Perera, Nimesh Fernando, Dennis Rodrigo, Nandun Niroshan, Lahiru Cooray, Sureka De Mel, Dinuk Hettiarachchi, Dimuthu De Silva, Chandimanthu Rodrigo, Charith Rajapaksha, Shehan Fernando, Rumesh Peries, Niroshan Dilhan, Chanuka Bandara, Sachitha Perera, Dileepa Jayalath and Pramod Sanjaya.

Hirdaramani Group: Krishantha Aruna (Captain), Umesh Sachin (Vice Captain), Kavindu Madushanka,  Hasan Lakshitha, Damindu Thiranjan, Udesh Wilegoda,  Maheepa Madhushanka, Viraj Rathdella,  Maduranga Niroshan,  Mohamed Sahran, Kavindu Eranga, Rajitha Asanka, Dinesh Chaminda,  Prashan Dinusha, Ranga Maheepala, Shanilka Indumal, Maduranga Dilshan and Dulaj Harshana.