Seylan Bank beats HNB in the Mercantile Services A Division netball tournament

The energetic, Vasana Lakmali and seven-footer Tharjini Sivalingam turned in a sterling performance in the final quarter to give Seylan Bank a heart-stopping 60-56 win over HNB in the Mercantile Services A Division Netball Tournament 2016, concluded at Thurstan College Grounds.

HNB led by Sri Lanka Captain Gayani Dissanayake led at half time; Seylan Bank fought tooth and nail in the third quarter and ran up a 10-point lead, but HNB managed to erase the lead and come within a point (55-54) at the end of this session.

HNB with a comfortable lead made some unforced errors mid way in the final quarter, which was fully capitalised on by Seylan Bank, as Vasana Lakmali opened full throttle and kept on feeding the long tall, Sri Lanka player from Jaffna Tharjini Sivalingam to score rapidly and win the game by four points. With this win, Seylan Bank avenged their one-point loss to HNB in the Mercantile knockout tournament 2016 semifinals held a few months back.

In the league stage, Seylan Bank beat Commercial Bank 29-14 and Citizens Development Business 51-29; HNB beat Citizens Development Business 62-13 and Commercial Bank 42-14. CDB took the third spot, beating Commercial Bank 52-48.

Seylan Bank scored a double, winning the Mixed Tournament, beating Nations Trust Bank.

Special awards:

Best Defense – H.D. Mandira and Best shot – Tharjini Sivalingam (both from Seylan); Best Centre – H. Gayanjali from HNB and the Netball Queen – Wasana Lakmali from Seylan; Best Male Player – Gayan Samaraweera from Seylan.