Hirdaramani Group and Stafford Motors clash in ‘F’division Final on Sunday

It will be a grudge battle for Hirdaramani Group when they take on Stafford Motor Co., for the second occasion, this time in the Final of the second Commercial Credit & Finance PLC powered – MCA ‘F’ Division 25 Over League Tournament 2017, on Sunday (June 4) at the MCA Grounds, commencing at 10am.

The two teams, earlier played in the same group and Stafford Motors beat Hirdaramani by 34 runs in their league outing played on April 22 at Panadura.

In the league stage, both teams finished with four wins and a loss, a piece with an equal number of points. Thus the Group B positions were determined by the team’s superior net run rate. Stafford Motors (1.30) took the top spot, while Hirdaramani (1.03) took the second berth.

Stafford Motors started off badly, losing to Janashakthi by four wickets; but from there on they moved on to the winning track, beating Union Bank by 106 runs, Hirdaramani by 34 runs, MAS Linea Aqua by 23 runs and Palliyaguruge Group by two runs on the D&L method.

Hirdaramani’s beat MAS Linea Aqua by nine wickets, Janashakthi Insurance by four wickets, Union Bank by six wickets and lost to Stafford Motors by 34 runs and beat Palliyaguruge Group by seven wickets.

The top 16 teams from the five groups advanced to the second round. Stafford Motors was ranked at number five and Hirdaramani was ranked at number eight.

In the elimination round matches, Hirdaramani who was drawn into the top half, beat WNS Global (No 09) by 67 runs in the pre-quarter finals, Janashakthi Insurance (No 16) (who eliminated the top seed, Hayleys Group ‘B’) by three wickets in the quarter-finals and Palliyaguruge Group (No. 11) (who eliminated No. 6, Access Group) by eight wickets in the semi-finals.

Stafford Motors, drawn into the bottom half, beat Totalamber (No. 12) by 14 runs on the D&L method in the pre-quarter finals, Textured Jersey ‘B’ (No. 2) by 54 runs in the quarter finals and Brandix Essentials ‘B’ (No. 3) by 64 runs in the semi-finals.

Both captains led from the front in the semi finals. Stafford Motors’ Captain Geeth Karunaratne (Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala) performing the second hat-trick in the tournament (5-27-4) and Hirdaramani Captain Krishantha Aruna (from Thakshila MMV Horana) top scored with a well compiled 65 runs in 45 balls inclusive of three sixes and eight fours.