Astron Lanka beats AIA Insurance in DPGC Challenge Trophy clash

Mahesh Francis hit a swashbuckling century, while remaining unbeaten as he propelled Astron Lanka to a resounding 67-run win over AIA Insurance at the ongoing MCA ‘E’ Division 25-over League Tournament, sponsored by the David Pieris Group of Companies for the 16th DPGC Challenge Trophy, which continued last weekend. 

The weekend’s other noteworthy batting performances came from G. Roshan from Assetline Leasing  (83 against Melwire Rolling), Shehan Dhananjaya from Assetline Leasing (60 Melwire Rolling), Nipuna Mudalige from Virtusa (51 not out against Prym Intimates), Chinthaka Jayabandara from Dialog Axiata (56 vs. Regnis Lanka), Sawath Faiz from Dialog Axiata (59 not out Regnis Lanka), S. Dilranga from UB Finance (67 vs. McLarens), Dilshan Silva from Commercial Bank ‘B’ (62 vs. Trellerborg), Manoj Soysa from  Amana Bank (58 vs. LOLC), Shalindra Perera from MAS Active ‘A’ (60 vs. Hirdaramani), M. Jerome from McLarens (51 not out vs. Trellerborg), Yapa Abeywardena from Eagle Logistics (53 vs. DFCC Bank), Visal Amugoda from DFCC Bank (62 not out vs. Eagle Logistics), A. Samsudeen from Amana Bank (57 vs. Emerchemie NB), Chamara Prasanna from AIA Insurance (61  not out vs. Astron Lanka), Dushan Kumara from Brandix Essentials ‘A’ (73 vs. Asia Asset Finance), Nethmina Perera from Maliban’s (53 vs. Ceylon Tobacco) and Tharindu Siriwardena from Maliban (64  vs. Ceylon Tobacco).

The weekend’s noteworthy bowling performances came from Malaka Ihalagedera from MAS Active ‘A’ (4 for 52 vs. H. Hirdaramani) and Ruchira Samarasinghe from Virtusa (4 for 12 vs. Prym Intimates).    

Weekend’s match results at a glance 14 half-day matches.

Moratuwa (morning): Commercial Bank ‘B’ beat Trelleborg Lanka by six wickets. (Match reduced to 19 overs-a-side due to wet ground conditions); Trelleborg – 137/9 (19), Commercial Bank ‘B’ 142/4 (17)

Moratuwa (afternoon): McLarens Group vs. UB Finance ended in no result due to rain, UBF – 131/8 in 21.2 overs when rain halted play. 

Wesley (morning): Amana Bank beat LOLC by two wickets. LOLC – 171/9 (25) and Amana Bank 172/8 (25).

Wesley (afternoon): Dialog Axiata beat Regnis Lanka by 39 runs on D&L method. Dialog – 234/8 (25), Regnis – 162/7 in 22 overs when rain halted play.

Moratuwa (morning): Brandix Essentials ‘A’ beat Asia Asset Finance by 13 runs (match reduced to 22 overs, due to wet ground conditions. Brandix – 144/8 (22); AAF – 131(21.2)

Moratuwa (afternoon): Hirdaramani Group beat MAS Active ‘A’ by 91 runs; Hirdaramani – 217/8 (25), MAS Active ‘A’ – 126 (22.3).

Kotahena (morning): Nawaloka Group beat CW Mackie by six wickets; CWM – 121 (22.5), Nawaloka – 126/4 (14.3)

Kotahena (afternoon): Virtusa beat Prym Intimates by 10 wickets; Prym Intimates – 89 (21.2), Virtusa – 91/0 (11)

 Darley Road (morning): Astron Lanka beat AIA Insurance by 67 runs. 

Astron – 198/4 (25); AIAI – 131 (22) 

Darley Road (afternoon): Assetline Leasing beat Melwire Rolling by 52 runs 

Assetline – 198/3 (25), Melwire – 146 (24)

MCA (morning): Emerchemie NB beat Amana Bank by one wicket; Amana Bank – 141/8 (25); Emerchemie – 142/9 (24.5)

MCA (afternoon): DFCC Bank beat Eagle Logistics by eight wickets; Eagle Logistics – 133/9 (25), DFCC – 137/2 (17.5)

Wesley (morning): Maliban Biscuits beat Ceylon Tobacco Co. by 129 runs (match reduced to 14 overs a side, due to wet ground conditions). 

Maliban – 186/4 (14), CTC – 57/8 (14).

Wesley (afternoon): McLarens Group beat Trelleborg Lanka by nine wickets

Trelleborg – 145/9 (25), McLarens – 149/1 (13.3)

The tournament will take a break on 14 and 15 April and will get back on track during the weekend of 21 and 22 April with a card of 16 half-day matches.