Unbeaten HNB “B” team will meet Expolanka Holdings in the Final of the 5th Fairfirst Insurance sponsored, MCA “F” division 25-Over League Tournament 2023, on Saturday 29 April at the MCA Grounds, commencing 10.00 a.m.
The finalist played alongside Group “D” in the league stage and HNB “B” narrowly beat Expolanka by 02 wickets in their league outing on 30 March @ MCA Grounds; Expolanka batting first scored 119 for 9 in 25 overs and HNB “B” replied with 120 for 8 in 24.1 overs.
HNB “B” unbeaten path to the Final :
- League Stage: Beat Ansell Lanka by 22 runs; beat DPGC “B” by 49 runs; beat Hirdaramani by 41 runs; beat Emerchemie NB by 11 runs; beat Commercial Credit by 42 runs and beat Expolanka Holdings by 02 wickets; their match against SLT was awarded them
- Knock-out Stage: beat Dialog Axiata by 06 runs in the pre-quarterfinals; beat Nations Trust Bank by 08 runs in the quarter-finals; and beat 3DH International by 03 runs in the Semi-Finals.
- HNB “B” top performers with the bat and ball were: H.A.T. Fernando (08 innings, 239 runs, inclusive of a century and half-century); Damitha Hunukumbura (09 innings, 193 runs inclusive of a half-century); Madushan Pathirage (08 innings, 175 runs 03 not outs, inclusive of a half centuries); Omal Palihapitiya (252 balls, 150 runs, 14 wickets); Mohamed Ikram (234 balls, 186 runs, 13 wickets) and Keheliya Athugoda (123 balls, 126 runs, 10 wickets)Expolanka Holdings path to the Final:
- League Stage: beat Hirdaramani by 09 wickets; beat SLT by 06 runs; lost to Ansell Lanka by 03 wickets and lost to HNB “B” by 02 wickets; their matches against Emerchemie NB and DPGC “B” ended in no results.
- Knockout Stage: beat MAS Active by 59 runs in the pre-quarterfinals; beat Ceylon Tobacco Co. by 90 runs in the quarter-finals and beat Astron Lanka by 21 runs in the Semi-finals.
- Expolanka Holdings’ top performers with the bat and ball: Lahiru Madusanka (09 innings 319 runs, inclusive of a century and 02 half centuries); Heshan Hewanayake (252 balls, 150 runs 18 wickets); Travin Speering (232 balls, 152 runs, 16 wickets); D.S. Mapatuna (149 balls, 113 runs, 13 wickets).The MCA-appointed Match Referee for the Final is Sena Nandiweera.
The Teams:
HNB “B” (from) : Dinesh Panditharatne (Captain), Damitha Hunukumbura, Ikram M. Razzik, Anush Perera, H.A.T. Fernando (WK), Madushan Pathirage, Mahasen Ranasinghe, Lahiru Wickramasinghe, Sachin Senanayake, Omal Palihapitiya, Keheliya Athugoda, Gihan Hondamunige, Dusiru Mahindaratne, Ishan Abeywickrama and Suresh Jayananda.
Expolanka Holdings (from) : Tharindu Roshan, Heshan Hewanayake, Lahiru Lakshitha (WK), Shashika Ashen, Madhawa Chathuranga, Ruztheen Miskin, Mahdi Namiz, Trevin Speering, Seniru Mapatuna, Ramzan Rafaideen, Malinda Dias, Abdul Azeez and Niranjan Rodrigo.
