HNB Grameen and Asia Asset Finance meet in MCA ‘E’ Division final

Unbeaten HNB Grameen and Asia Asset Finance reached the finals of the 15th David Pieris Group of Companies-sponsored MCA ‘E’ Division 30-over League Tournament 2017 for the DPGC Challenge Trophy.

In the semi-finals played last Sunday, HNB Grameen scored a hard-fought three-wicket win over Mercantile Investments Ltd. while Asia Asset Finance scored a comfortable 51-run win over DFCC Bank. 

In the semi-final of the top half of the draw Mercantile Credit, sent into bat, put up a challenging total of 162 for 9 in 30 overs, propelled by a belligerent 42 runs from 15 balls, inclusive of 5 sixes and a four, scored by Chandika Kumara.

Kumara hit five sixes on the trot in the 14th over, bowled by Chamara Ratnayake (2/36). 

MIL strike bowlers Chandika Kumara (2/38) and Captain Dinesh Seneviratne (2/37) bowled well in tandem, as they had HNB Grameen on the ropes at 56 for 4 in 10.6 overs. But they got back on track through a valiant fifth wicket stand of 56 runs from 30 balls between Suleka Ranasinghe (45) and Dinusha Fernando (20). 

Janith Perera (20) put the finishing touches, as HNB Grameen reached their target in 27.4 overs with three wickets in hand.

In the semi-final of the bottom half of the draw, half centuries from Eranga Prabath (57 in 54 balls, inclusive of eight fours) and Shashrika Pussegolla (60 in 38 balls, inclusive of a six and 5 fours) guided Asia Asset Finance, who batted first, to go over the 200-run mark (206/9 in 30 overs). 

Eranga Prabath laid the foundation for this with two partnerships - the first with Nimesh Fernando (40), 75 runs from 77 balls for the second wicket and later with Pussegolla, with 66 runs from 40 balls for the third wicket.

DFCC in reply wilted under the accurate bowling of Malith Mahela (3/30), Shashrika Pussegolla (2/29) and Vinod Perera (2/27) and were all out in 28.1 overs for 155 runs. While nine other DFCC batsmen got terrorised by Mahela, Pussegolla and Perera, Dhanushka Weerasinghe fought like a Spartan with a terrific 72 runs in 48 balls, inclusive of 5 sixes and 6 fours, Chamod Wickramasinghe chipped in with 28 runs. 

Semi-final results

Semi-final of the top half of the draw at MCA: HNB Grameen beat Mercantile Investments Ltd. by three wickets.

MIL – 162/9 (30)(Chandika Kumara 42, Dinesh Seneviratne 27, Dasun Jayasundera 21, S. Bandara 3/27, Dinusha Fernando 2/25, S. Ranasinghe 2/14, C. Ratnayake 2/36)

HNB Grameen - 163/7 (27.4) (S. Ranasinghe 44, D. Fernando 20, J. Perera 20, Chandika Kumara 2/38, Dinesh Seneviratne 2/37)

Semi-final of the bottom half of the draw at Army/Mattegoda: Asia Asset Finance beat DFCC Bank by 51 runs. 

AAF - 206/9 (30) (E. Prabath 57, Nimesh Fernando 40, Shashrika Pussegolla 60, D. Weerasinghe 3/33, P. Manoj 2/33) 

DFCC – 155 (28.1) ( Dhanushka Weerasinghe 72, C. Wickramasinghe 28, M. Mahela 3/30, Shashrika Pussegolla 2/29, Vinod Perera 2/27)

The final between HNB Grameen and Asia Asset Finance will take place this Saturday, 1 April at the MCA Grounds, commencing at 10.00 a.m.