It was a valliant effort by Vallibel Finance
Vallibel Finance, just three years in Mercantile Cricket, made a giant leap when they lifted the glittering ‘Sierra IT’ Trophy with a resounding 83 runs win over Lankem Ceylon, in the 2nd Sierra Information Technologies, sponsored MCA Division ‘F’ 25-over League Tournament final, concluded at the MCA ground last Saturday.
Vallibel Finance sent into bat put up a challenging total of 182 for 9 in 25 overs via two notable batting performances by Hashan Lakmal (50 in 35 balls, inclusive of three sixes and four fours) and skipper, Sagara Upuldeniya (40 in 42 balls inclusive of a six and four hits to the ropes).
When Lankem occupied the crease in chasing the victory target skipper Sagara Upuldeniya (3-0-19-3) and his deputy Adeesha Nanayakkara (3.1-0-19-3) bowled menacingly at tandem to skittle out Lankem for a paltry 99 runs in 18.1 overs.
Match Referee, Basil Perera picked Hashan Lakmal from Vallibel Finance as his man of the match. The other three special awards, based on performances up to the knockout stage, went to Udara Lakmal from Lankem Ceylon, best bowler (nine matches, 40 overs 217 runs, 28 wickets, inclusive of three (Hashan Lakmal 50, Sagara Upuldeniya 40, Dhanushka Attygalle 2/35)
(M. Aslam 25, Adeesha Nanayakkara 3/19, Sagara Upuldeniya 3/34) five wickets hauls); T.S. Irudeen from QP Employment, best batsman (nine innings, 498 runs, three not outs, best 153 and three half centuries); Adeesha Nanayakkara from Vallibel Finance, man of the tournament, (295 runs and 15 wickets).
Head of Electrical, Sierra Information Technologies, Pathum Jayawardena was the chief guest at the post tournament awards presentation; he along with Niran Maha- watte Senior VP, Rohana Dissanayake, General Secretary and Sujeewa de Silva, Secretary Tournament Committee, all from MCA, gave away the awards.
‘G’ DIVISION
The 5th Stafford Motor Co. sponsored, ‘Honda’ Trophy, MCA ‘G’ division 25-Over League Tournament 2015 round robin stage came to conclusion on a pulsating note last week-end.
Debutants, UB Finance took major honours by registering the highest team total – 329 for 3 in 25 Overs and producing the first double cen- turion of the tournament in the process in opening batsman, Pathum Madushan (215 in 90 balls, inclusive of 14 sixes and 24 fours) Vs. Tea & Herbs.
Sri Lankan Airlines, too finished on a high note, scoring their 7th win on the trot, beating Deutsche Bank by 78 runs, thus inflicting the banker’s first defeat. Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka Finance maintained their unbeaten status when they scored their 4th win, beating Tech One Global by 43 runs; Prabath Kariapperuma scored a quick fire 95 in 51 balls, inclusive of eight sixes and equal number of fours, as MBSL finished with a formidable 255 for 9 in 25 overs; MBSL Medium pacer, Dinusha Shamal snapped 5 for 37 in 3.2 overs to restrict Tech-One Global to 212 in 24.2 overs.
Opening batsman, Deega Galkissa carried his bat out with a sparkling 92 not out in 71 balls, inclusive of four sixes and 12 fours while Middle order batsman, Nalin Amarasinghe scored a belligerent 96 in 48 balls, inclusive of six hits over the ropes and ten fours to spearhead debutants, Peak Colombo to a thrilling seven wickets win with two deliveries to spare over Ultra –Tech Cement; Galkissa and Amarasinghe were associated in a hurricane 180 runs stand for the 3rd wicket in 98 balls.