Standard Chartered Bank and Commercial Credit & Finance ‘B’ to battle it out tomorrow

Unbeaten Standard Chartered Bank will look to their reliable all-rounder Aruna Henrickson to put them on the right side of the ledger, when they confront Commercial Credit & Finance ‘B’ in the final of the 6th Prestige Automobile sponsored BMW/Hyundai Trophy of the MCA ‘C’ Division 50-Over League Tournament 2017 played tomorrow at the MCA Grounds, commencing at 10.00 a.m.

Henrickson has so far accumulated 290 runs in six matches, including a century, 98 not out and 70 runs, and has bagged 12 wickets. 

The other players who will play a vital role for the bankers will be Charith Satharasinghe (280 runs, including a century in the semi-finals) and all-rounders Bhanuka Adeesha and Shakthi Siriratne.

In the league stage Standard Chartered Bank scored wins against Airport & Aviation by eight wickets, JL Morison by three wickets, DHT Cement by seven runs and Peoples Leasing by four runs. 

In the knockout stage they beat Colombo Dockyard by 37 runs in the quarterfinals before moving past DHT Cement by 46 runs on the D&L method in the semi-finals. 

Commercial Credit & Finance ‘B’ entered the knockout stage by the skin of their teeth via a bonus point. They lost three of their league matches to NTB ‘A’ by two wickets, Commercial Leasing by 34 runs and LB Finance ‘B’ by 77 runs. Their single win came against Colombo Dockyard by 44 runs.

Commercial Credit ‘B’ got their act together in the knockout stage by scoring upset wins against Peoples Leasing by 70 runs in quarterfinals and unbeaten Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ by 31 runs in the semi-finals. 

The strength of Commercial Credit ‘B’ lies in their bowling. Sachin Bandara has performed creditably with 17 wickets for 170 runs and Saranga Salinda (5 for 38 against NTB ‘A’ in the semi-finals) and Anura Dias. 

In the batting department, Commercial Credit ‘B’ will depend on their centurion Visal Senanayake (100 not out against NTB ‘A’ in the semi-finals), Salitha de Silva (211 runs including two half-centuries) and all-rounder Anura Dias. 

The MCA appointed match referee cum adjudicator is BRC stalwart K.H. Nandasena.

The teams

Standard Chartered Bank (from left): Selwyn Jamion (Captain), Banuka Adheesha, Charith Satharasinghe, Aruna Henrickson, Shakthi Sirirathne, Hiran Rajapaksha, Trevin Almedha, Nishendra Wicramathilake, Gawesha Fernando, Madusha Jayasinghe, Ravin Perumal, Askar Kamaladeen, Dinesh Priyankara and H. Thangeswaran.

Commercial Credit & Finance ‘B’ (from left): Praneeth Wijesena (Captain), Suchira Fernando, Visal Senanayake, Anura Dias, Malith Fernando, Damith Mendis, Suranga Salinda, Shalitha De Silva, Sachin Bandara, Duminda Kannagara, Sampath Ananda, Nilusha Utthamadasa, Janaka Dayananda, Samith Perera and Kamal Nishantha.