HNB Finance took sweet revenge over Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) with a comprehensive 91 runs win in the final of the MCA ‘C’ division 50-over league tournament for the ‘NDB Challenge Trophy’ that concluded at the MCA ground on March 7.
Earlier in a round robin encounter, SLT convincingly beat HNB Finance by four wickets.
Sent in to bat first on a lively pitch, HNB found the going tough early in their innings. But some sensible batting by Muditha Fernando and Vindika Chandrasiri who put on 90 runs for the second wicket saw them recover.
Useful contributions by Sanoj Dharshika (56), Thushara Fernando (24) and Janith Perera (24) saw them finish with a challenging total of 263 for 9 in 50 overs.
SLT also started off badly to be 50 for 3 in ten overs. Nimesh Mendis played sensibly to score 56 off 45 balls and was associated in three useful partnerships. But after the dismissal of Mendis the rest fell in quick succession to be bowled out for 172 in 34.1 overs.
The chief wrecker was spinner Tharusha Fernando who captured five wickets for 13 runs and was adjudged man of the match by the match referee.
The other awards, up to the semi-finals stage, were taken by Umeshka Morais (HNB) the best bowler, Sandaru Wickramaratne from PABC Bank the best batsman and Gimhan Ashirwada from Commercial Bank became the man of the series.
Scores:
HNB Finance: 263 for 9 in 50 overs (Kasun Ekanayake 19, Muditha Fernando 46, Vindaka Chandrasiri 41, Sanoj Dharshika 56, Tharusha Fernando 24, Janith Perera 24, Inshaka Siriwardena 5/47)
Sri Lanka Telecom: 172 in 34.1 overs (Sachin Divangana 27, Nimesh Mendis 56, Inshaka Siriwardena 21, Tharusha Fernando 5/13)