HNB Grameen Finance win MCA ‘D’ Division League Tournament

HNB Grameen Finance, with a magnificent display of fielding, coasted to a comfortable 89-run win over the Expolanka Group in the MCA ‘D’ Division 40-over League Tournament final, sponsored by Ceylon Cold Stores Plc, for the 15th Elephant House Lemonade Trophy, at the MCA Grounds on 1 April.

HNB Grameen from the very first delivery hounded the Expolanka batsman like a pack of terriers, led by the robust Habeebul Ismath, thus putting them under severe pressure.

Expolanka, chasing 200 runs to win in 40 overs, lost their prolific opening batsman Dharshana Hettiarachchi (325 runs) for one run (1 for 1). 

Habeebul Ismath then went into action with a brilliant direct throw to run out Sankalpa Vaas (1) and followed it up with a superb catch to dismiss Lahiru Madusanka (1) and then ran out Tharindu Roshan (6) with another bull’s-eye throw – 4 down for 9 runs to signal Expolanka’s point of no return. 

Ismath continued his annihilation by taking two mare catches and bowled 7.3 overs bagging two wickets for 20 runs as Expolanka folded up for a paltry 110 runs in the 36th over. 

The MCA-appointed match referee SL Army’s Thusitha Karunaratne had no hesitation in naming Ismath the Man of the Match.

Earlier on, HNB Grameen Finance, sent into bat, got off to a sensational start with their openers Damith Perera (32 in 28 balls, with 4 fours) and Nadun Dharshana (59 in 69 balls with 1 six and 8 fours) putting on 90 runs in 76 balls.

Expolanka fought back gamely with their spin twins of Aravinda Vithanarachchi (8-1-22-4)  and Lahiru Madusanka (4-20-3) operating in tandem, to get HNB Grameen all out for 199 runs in 37.1 overs. Suleka Kasun Ranasinghe, going in at No. 7, took his series tally to 387 runs with a useful 37 runs off 30 balls, hitting 3 sixes and 3 fours.

The other three special awards, based on performances in the league stage, the quarterfinals and the semifinals, went to Eranda Seneviratne from NDB Bank, the best bowler (39-265-21); Dinusha Fernando from HNB Grameen Finance, the best batsman (328 runs) and Suleka Kasun Ranasinghe from HNB Grameen Finance, the Man of the Series (350 runs and 13 wickets for 165 runs).

Awards were presented by Nadina Fernando - Marketing Manager, EH Beverages, Ceylon Cold Stores Plc (Chief Guest); Punnyakantha Abeygunasekera - Assistant Manager/Technical, Ceylon Cold Stores Plc (Guest of Honour); Roshan Iddamalgoda – MCA President; Nalin Wickremasinghe - MCA General Secretary and Sujeewa de Silva - MCA Tournament Committee Chairman.

Chief scores

HNB Grameen Finance - 199 (37.1) (Nandun Dharshana 59, Suleka Ranasinghe 37, Damith Lakshan 32, Heshitha Gamage 22, Aravinda Vithanarachchi 4/22, Lahiru Madushanka 3/20).

Expolanka Group - 110 (35.3)(Krishanth Nathan 32, Rusthan Miskin 20 not out, Hashan Hewanayake 17, Madawa Fernando 14, Janith Perera 3/20, Dinusha Fernando 2/13 and Habeebul Ismath 2/20).