Palliyaguruge Group-Stafford Motors in MCA ‘G’ Div. League Finals
Palliyaguruge Group and tournament sponsor Stafford Motor Co. reached the finals of the 6th ‘StaffordHonda’, MCA ‘G’ Division League Tournament 2016 with victories at the two semi-finals played last weekend.
At Mattegoda, Sponsor Stafford Motors was stretched by Maliban Biscuits, before the experienced Honda boys pulled off a fighting 20-run win.
Former Nalandian Sanjaya Gangodawila was the hero who bravely held the Stafford Motor fort with a solid 67 runs in 56 balls, inclusive of 1 six and 7 fours, as the young Maliban bowlers, Amila Prasad (2/23), T. Siriwardena (2/23), D. Chathuranja (3/25) and Anjula Perera (2/7), tormented the rest of the batsmen, restricting them to 131 runs in 24 overs.
Malibans, now relishing an easy chase of a moderate 132 runs in 25 overs (RPO 5.28), got entangled in the experienced Stafford bowling web of Dhammika Kumara (5-1-25-3), Pramesh Fernando ( 5-0-16-2) and Amila Mendis (4.2-1-12-3) and were bowled out for 111 runs in 22.2 overs.
At the MCA, a sparkling 4th wicket stand of 115 runs in 82 balls, between Mohamed Muthalif (63 in 47 balls- 4 sixes 5 fours) and Saman Amarasinghe (61 in 47 balls- 4 sixes 5 fours ) propelled Palliyaguruge Group to a fine 72 runs win over Asia Asset Finance
The Muthalif-Amarasinghe stand helped Palliyaguruge put up a challenging 202 for 7 in 25 overs.
Asia Asset Finance (AAF), despite a stubborn knock by Nimesh Fernando (45), crumbled under the accurate bowling of Praneeth Palliyaguruge (3.50-19-3), Udara Rajapaksa and Mohamed Muthalif, and were dismissed for 130 in 21.5 overs.
The Final between Stafford Motor Co., and Palliyaguruge Group will take place this weekend at the MCA Grounds, commencing 10 am.