Unbeaten, HNB Grameen under the astute Captaincy of Ranushka Amila Herath, a product of St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala took a giant stride in Mercantile Cricket, as they entered the Final of the 15th David Pieris Group of Companies sponsored, “DPGC” Challenge Trophy, MCA “E” division 30-Over League Tournament 2017.

HNB Grameen will lock horns with the confident, Asia Asset Finance this Saturday, 01st of April at the MCA Grounds, commencing 10 a.m.

HNB Grameen’s unbeaten run to the Final: In the league stage, they beat Regnis Lanka by 09 wickets, beat Emerchemie by 65 runs, beat AIA Insurance by 08 wickets, beat Mercantile Investments by 07 wickets and beat Amana Bank by 08 wickets; In the Knock-out stage, they beat Brandix Essentials by 80 runs in the pre-quarter finals, beat John Keells Group by 81 runs in the quarter finals and beat Mercantile Investments Ltd., for the 2nd time by 03 wickets in the Semi Finals.

HNB Grameen owe their success to their batting star, Muditha Malan Fernando, who has accumulated 350 runs inclusive of 02 centuries; batsman/wicket keeper Viroshan Sandaruwan Fernando, who has scored 255 runs inclusive of 02 half centuries and former SL fast bowler, Dinusha Fernando who has bagged 16 wickets so far.

Asia Asset Finance run up to the Final: In the league stage, they had 04 wins against Vallibel Finance by 10 runs; UB Finance by 04 wickets, Astron Lanka by 08 wickets and Bimputh Finance by 184 runs; their only blemish in the tournament was losing to Dialog Axiata “A” by 04 runs. In the Knock-out Stage they eliminated LOLC by 75 runs in PQFs, Commercial Bank “B” by 75 runs in QFs and DFCC Bank by 50 runs in the Semi Finals. 

The bankers will have to keep a close watch on Asia Asset Finance versatile all rounder, Shashrika Pussegolla, the Star of the tournament, with 377 runs and 20 wickets and their consistent and economical bowler Malith Mahela with 16 wickets in the bag and hungry for more in the Final. 

The Teams 

HNB Grameen: Ranushka Amila Herath (Captain), Pradeep Chamara Rathnayake (VC), Suramya Pushpaka Bandara, Muditha Malan Fernando, Dinusha Manoj Fernando, Danushka Sandaruwan, Viroshan Sandaruwan Fernando (WK), Rakeeb Mohamed Ismath, Janith Chathuranga Perera, Suleka Kasun Ranasinghe, Damith Lakshan Perera, Priyashantha Rangajeewa Dissanayake, Prabath Buddhika Thanthirige, Amila Pushpa Kumara, Heshitha Madukapriya Gamage, Praveen Nadisha Perera and Velu Vijay Ananth. 

Asia Asset Finance: Sisira Mudalige (Captain), Nimesh Fernando (Vice Captain), Shashrika Pussegolla, Nimesh Perera, Vinodh Perera, Malith Mahela, Nandun Niroshan, Dennis Rodrigo, Eranga Prabath (WK), Dimuthu De Silva, Pramod Fernando, Lahiru Cooray, Sureka De Mel, Shehan Fernando, Rumesh Peiris, Kaneshan Kabileshan, Sachintha Roshan and Nalin Hemantha

Big draw for annual MCA Over 40 Sixes tomorrow

An unprecedented number of entries have attracted the Annual MCA Over 40 “Sixes” 2017 to be held on Sunday, 2 April, at the MCA & Thurstan College Grounds, commencing 8.30 am at both venues. 

In the history of the tournament, the maximum number of teams that had participated in the past were 11 or 12; this time it has increased to 18. 

The five teams playing for the first time are, CEAT Kelaniya, Laughs Holdings. The Finance Co., Deutsche Bank AG & AMW Group.

The other 13 teams are: Fair First Insurance (formally Union Assurance General/2016 winner), John Keells Group (2016 runners-up), Sri Lanka Telecom, Colombo Dockyard PLC, Janashakthi Insurance, Sri Lankan Airlines, Singer Sri Lanka PLC, Informatics, Sampath Bank “A” & “B” teams, Hayleys Group, HNB and NDB Bank. 

The tournament played in the lines of the International HK “Sixes”, will be conducted in two stages – the “league” and the “Knock-out” consisting 23 matches including the Final; the Finalist from Thurstan College Grounds will travel to the MCA Grounds to play the Final. 

The ‘Elephant House Lemonade’ Trophy is up for grabs once again for the winning team, together with five special awards, namely, Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Batsman Hitting the Most Number of Sixes in the Tournament, Most Senior Player that Takes the Field and the Man of the Final. 

All players born on or before 1977 March are eligible to participate. 

The senior citizens of MCA, who has kept their fitness levels up in the month of March, will not forget to dry clean their flannels and dust their old pairs of boots in readiness to march forward for this much awaited cricketing event.