Commercial Leasing Co. ends Vallibel Finance unbeaten run

Commercial Leasing Co. ended the unbeaten reign of the high riding Vallibel Finance in the 13th Ceylon Cold Stores PLC-sponsored “Elephant House Lemonade” Trophy MCA “D” division 40 Over League Tournament 2016 quarter finals worked off last weekend.

Along with giant killer Commercial Leasing, the other three teams that advanced to the semis after winning their quarters were Central Finance, Commercial Credit & Finance “B” and Kanrich Finance. “B”. 

Group “C” Winner Vallibel Finance, after six wins on the trot in the league stage, met their waterloo, as they lost by 96 runs to Commercial Leasing, who were placed third in Group “A”.

The match winners for Commercial Leasing were Madura Sanjaya, who top scored with a fluent 66 in 53 balls, inclusive of two sixes and six fours and their bowling trio, P. Chandrasekera (5.3-30-2), Samith Gamage (6-24-2) and Chinthaka de Silva (4-16-2).

On the same day, the unexpected happened once again when the match between Asian Alliance Insurance and Central Finance Co. ended in a tie; the deadlock was broken by bowling a super over, where Central Finance went through, winning by 12 runs.

Opener Suchira Fernando (71 in 53 balls inclusive of 13 fours) and No. 4 batsman Malith Fernando (97 not out in 80 balls inclusive of a six and 15 fours) steered Commercial Credit & Finance “B” to a convincing six-wicket win with nine deliveries to spare, over NDB Bank. G. Mihiranga (31) gave good support to Malith Fernando, as the pair put on 100 runs in 94 balls for the fourth wicket to clinch the game – 259 for 4 in 38.3 overs.

The reliable opening pair Dhanushka Eddussooriya (90 in 76 balls with three sixes and 10 fours) and Dhanushka Sandaruwan (46) gave the bankers a flying start, putting on 155 runs in 160 balls to help NDB, batting first, to finish with 255 for 6 in 40 overs. A brilliant all round performance by Shiral Senaratne (92 in 75 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and seven fours as well as 4 for 10 in two overs) propelled Kanrich Finance “B” to a huge 179-run win over Hilton Colombo Residences.

The weekend’s match results – all quarter finals 

First QF at Thurstan – Commercial Leasing Co. beat Vallibel Finance by 96 runs

Commercial Leasing – 223/7 (40.0) (Madura Sanjaya 66, K. Kanchana 34, J. Karunatillake 32, Adeesha Nanayakkara 4/46)

Vallibel Finance – 127 (32.3) (H. Lakmal 27, Yasas Alwis 21, P. Chandrasekera 2/30, S. Gamage 2/24, C. de Alwis 2/16)

Second QF at MCA – Central Finance beat Asian Alliance Insurance in the Super Over, Match ended in a tie

AAI – 188/9 (Gayan Chamara 62, Denesh Fernando 40, Isuru Sampath 30, I. Salinda 5/51, Vikum Costa 2/29)

Central Finance – 188 (37.5) (Kushan Silva 48, Amila Gayan 39, Chandrika Amarasinghe 3/30, C. Boteju 2/25, J. Buddhika 2/40)

Super Over – Central Finance 20/0 (M. Attanayake 13 not out, Amila Gayan 06 not out, over bowled by Charitha Boteju); Asian Alliance Insurance - 8/0 (Over bowled by Nimesh Fernando)

Third QF at MCA – Commercial Credit & Finance “B” beat NDB Bank by six wickets

NDB Bank – 255/6 (40.0) (Dhanushka Eddussooriya 90, Dhanushka Sandaruwan 46, V. Pathirana 35, S. Salinda 2/45)

Commercial Credit “B” – 259/4 (38.3) (Malith Fernando 97 not out, Suchira Fernando 71, G. Mihiranga 31, S. Dhananjaya 2/45)

Fourth QF at Mattegoda – Kanrich Finance “B” beat Hilton Colombo Residences by 179 runs 

Kanrich “B” – 286/9 (40.0) (Shiral Senaratne 92, Kasun Chamara 47, Osanda Fernando 57, T. Dhananjaya 3/28, L. Desa 2/48)

HCR – 107 (20.0) (K. de Soysa 45, Thishan Peiris 3/22, Shiral Senaratne 4/10, T. Gamage 2/32)

The Semi Finals will be worked off this weekend as follows: Saturday, 12 March – Commercial Leasing Co. vs. Central Finance at MCA as well as Commercial Credit & Finance “B” Vs. Kanrich Finance “B” at Thurstan. Sunday 13 March is kept as a reserve day.

The Final is set to take place on Saturday, 19 March at the MCA.