Merc ‘G’div semi-finalists found
Unbeaten Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka Finance, along with Asia Asset Finance, Deutsche Bank AG and Brandix Essentials ‘B’ advanced to the semi-finals of the 5th Stafford Motor Co. Sponsored, ‘Honda’ Trophy, MCA Division ‘G’ 25-over League Tournament last Saturday.
In the quarter-finals, Asia Asset Finance scored a comfortable 39-run win over Jetwing Travels; MBSL Finance scored a fighting 4-wicket win over debutants, UB Finance; Deutsche Bank scored a narrow 11-run win over giant killers Nor Lanka and Brandix Essentials ‘B’ romped to comprehensive 7wicket win over unbeaten SriLankan Airlines.
In the first quarter-final, Sucharitha Pussegolla (41) and Dennis Rodrigo (52 in 38 balls with eight fours) came up with two sterling batting performances to give them a commanding total of 217 for 7 in 25 overs.
Jetwing Travels stood up to the challenge via a 120 runs, second-wicket stand between D. Peiris (54) and S. Nugawela (69), but they gobbled up almost 18 overs in the process, to fall well short of the target.
The second quarter-final between the two financiers was good as a final. MBSL was up against a well balanced, youthful, UBF side that had the highest team total in the tournament -- 329 for 3 in 25 overs.
UBF put up a challenging 172 for 6 in 25 overs, but fell short of their target of 200 runs as MBSL spinners, Ershad Rashmishad (2/35) and Sameera Abeyratne (2/15) put the brakes on their quest for quick runs in the last five overs.
MBSL in reply took the bull by the horns; as Prabath Kariyapperuma kept the scoreboard ticking with a belligerent 40 runs while ‘Mr. Reliable’, the left-hander, Dhanushka Kandegama played the anchor role, stroking a stylish, unbeaten 67 in 53 balls inclusive of four sixes and seven fours to take them home in the 24th over. Kandegama was well supported by Asantha Perera (18) and Dhanushka Shamal (16 not out in six balls).
In the third quarter-final, dogged innings by Thivanka de S. Wijeratne (42) and C. Dumbarage (35 not out) and a devastating spell of fast bowling by Praveen Fernando (3 for 16 in five overs) helped Deutsche Bank to a hard fought 11-run win over Nor Lanka, who entered the scene, beating the unbeaten Stafford Motors in the pre-quarter-final.
In the fourth quarter-final, unbeaten SriLankan Airlines after eight straight wins, crash-landed losing to Brandix ‘B’, tamely by seven wickets.
The SriLankans shot out for 103 runs in 21.3 overs was due to the on the spot, intelligent bowling by R. Fernando (2/17), T. Silva (2/15), S. Yapa (2/25), J. Prasanna (2/15) and T. de Silva (2/19). Brandix ‘B’ broke little sweat on reaching the target in just 16.1 overs.
Accordingly the semi-finals will be worked off on August 8 and 9 at the MCA ground. On August 8 Asia Asset Finance will take on Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka Finance while the following day Deutsche Bank AG and Brandix Essentials ‘B’ meet each other with intentions of reaching the final. Both matches will be played in the morning session and afternoons, on both days, have been marked as reserve time for play.
Match Results:
N. Fernando 30, S. Pussegolla 41, Dennis Rodrigo 52, N. Perera 30, S. Mudalige 28, M. de Silva 22, R. Fernando 2/38, N. Rajitha 2/44)
(D. Peiris 54, S. Nugawela 69, A. Wijeratne 29 not out, N. Fernando 2/32)
(M. Fernando 26, P. Madusanka 26, N. Gamage 35, B. Samarawickrama 21, B. Jayamanne 26 not out, E. Rashmishad 2/35, S. Abeyratne 2/15) (Prabath Kariapperuma 40, Dhanushka Kandegama 67 not out, B. Jayamanne 3/34, N. Gamage 2/20)
(G. Ratnayake 26, T. de S. Wijeratne 42, C. Dumbarage 35 not out, J. de Silva 27 not out, S. Fernando 2/16)
(C. Silva 20, U. Munasinghe 25, R. Anusha 37, Praveen Fernando 3/16, R. Tissera 2/35)
(S. Karunaratne 45 not out, R. Fernando 20, M. Ratnayake 25)
(R. Kandeepan 50, R. Jayasuriya 21, R. Fernando 2/17, T. Silva 2/15, S. Yapa 2/25, J. Prasanna 2/15, T. de Silva 2/19)
Sri Lankan Airlines flew high when they won the first ever Travel Trade Sports Club Archery Championships 2015, sponsored by Yenesha Travels Ltd., Seeduwa, concluded at the Colombo Archery School, CR & FC, Longdon Place, last weekend.
16 teams participated in two stages on a team Championship basis.
League Stage: (Three archers/Four arrows each/One round/120 points)
Aitken Spence Travels (86), Amaya Resorts ‘A’ (72), Amaya Resorts ‘B’ (43), AS Aviation (71), Diethelm Travels ‘A’ (80), Diethelm Travels ‘B’ (85), Green Holidays (86), Luxe Asia ‘A’ (78), Luxe Asia ‘B’ (61), Mt. Lavinia Hotel (44), Serendib Leisure (104), Sri Lankan Airlines (109), Viluxur Holidays (68), Walkers Tours ‘A’ (65), Walkers Tours ‘B’ (101) and Walkers Tours ‘C’ (89).
The Eight top scoring teams advanced to the quarter-finals.Quarter-finals: Sri Lankan Airlines beat Diethelm Travels ‘A’; Serendib Leisure beat Diethelm Travels ‘B’; Aitken Spence Travels beat Walkers Tours ‘B’ and Walkers Tours ‘C’ beat Green Holidays.
Semi Finals: Sri Lankan Airlines beat Walkers Tours ‘C’and Serendib Leisure beat Aitken Spence Travels.
3rd Place: Aitken Spence Travels beat Walkers Tours ‘C’ 47/43
Final: Sri Lankan Airlines Arch- ers, R.A.D. Senaka (Team Leader), S. Seneviratne and R.A.D.L. Sashan beat Serendib Leisure, Archers, Malshan Dissanayake (Team Leader), Hussain Habeeb and Hasitha Herath, 56/54.
Special Awards: Best Archer/Male: R.A.D. Senaka from Sri Lankan Airlines
Best Archer/Female: Dileka Ariyapperuma from Aitken Spence Travels.
Awards were given away by the Chief Guest, Director /GM, Yenesha Travels, Seeduwa, Shanaka Fernando, President, Denesh Silva, Vice President, Bonita Odayar, General Secretary, Palitha Mendis, Treasurer, Chinthaka Daluwatte, Committee Members, Shan Perera and Asiri Wickramasuriya - all from TTSC.