HNB Finance to play final against SLT

• MCA ‘C’ Division 50-Over League Tournament 2020

HNB Finance will be seeking sweet revenge when they meet Sri Lanka Telecom in the first National Development Bank (NDB) sponsored ‘NDB’ Trophy – MCA ‘C’ Division 50-Over (white ball) League Tournament 2020 Final on Saturday at the MCA grounds, commencing at 10 a.m. 

The finalist played alongside in Group ‘B’, where Sri Lanka Telecom beat HNB Finance by four wickets in their league outing on 19 January at De Soysa Park, Moratuwa. 

SLT who is playing MCA white ball cricket for the first time, scored two more wins against Commercial Bank by four wickets and PABC Bank by 55 runs, but surprisingly lost to People’s Leasing by five wickets, as they finished second behind HNB Finance in the league points table. 

In the knockout quarters, SLT beat Heshan Flexi Packaging by four wickets and took revenge over People’s Leasing, beating them by a massive margin of 127 runs in the semi-finals.

Before meeting SLT, People’s Leasing created a huge upset by beating the fancied Commercial Credit by one wicket to qualify for the semi-finals. 

SLT has so far got two MCA titles under their belt, the Tier ‘B’ open ‘Sixes’ 2019 and the ‘G’ division 2018.

SLT’s top performers are; Adeesha Thilanchana (four innings, 192 runs), Sachin Divangana (six innings 149 runs), N. Ramachandren (six innings, 149 runs), Lasith Kumara (11 wickets for 66 runs), and Maduvinda Siriwardena (nine wickets for 99 runs) and Kaushalya Wijeratne (eight wickets for 141 runs). 

HNB Finance formally known as HNB Grameen won the MCA ‘D’ division in 2018.

HNB Finance despite their loss to SLT in the league stage, made amends by beating PABC by six wickets, Commercial Bank by three wickets and People’s Leasing by 100 runs to head group ‘B’ in the league table.

In the elimination stage, HNB Finance beat Morison by 8 runs in the quarters and beat Commercial Bank for the second time by 56 runs in the semi-finals. 

Their top performers are; Centurion Pathum Mendis (three innings, 171 runs), Muditha Fernando (six innings, 133 runs), Umeshka Morais (16 wickets for 159 runs), A.H. Nirmal (9 wickets 115 runs), and Thilanga Udeshana (9 wickets for 131 runs).

The MCA appointed Match Referee cum Adjudicator is Sri Lanka Army’s Thusitha Karunaratne.

The teams

Sri Lanka Telecom: Deshaja Yukthi (Captain), Lahiru Thamvavita (V. Captain),  Nirushan Ramachandran,  Lahiru Ranatunga, Kasun Amarasinghe, Ian Devin, Inshaka Siriwardane, Anjana Marvan, Sachin Divangana, Heshan Danushka, Adeesha Thilanchana, Chamath Goonesinghe, Lasith Kumara, Nimesh Mendis, Ganidu Dewmina, Dinuka Dilshan, Thilanka Ravishan, Damitha Silva, Keshan Wijeratne and Malinda Karunarathne.

HNB Finance: Heshitha Gamage (Captain), Muditha Malan Fernando, Janith Chathuranga Perera, Ayesh Madushanka Wijethunga, Vindika Nadeera Chandrasiri, Sanoj Darshika Wijethunga, Umeshka Aveendra Morais, Gihan Anjana Weligamage, Achela Nirukshaka, Kasun Harshana Ekanayake, Tilanga Udeshana, Nipun Lakshan, Damith Lakshan Perera, Kasun Lakruwan Abeyrathna (WK), and Pathum Madushanka Mendis.