Brandix banishes the favourites
Asia Asset Finance and Brandix Essentials ‘B’ sparkled, as they entered the final of the 5th Stafford Motor Co., sponsored, Honda Trophy, MCA Division ‘ G’ 25- over League Tournament 2015.
In the semi-finals played over last weekend, Asia Asset Finance put an end to the unbeaten run of Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka Finance, beating them by 4 wickets, while Brandix ‘ B’ knocked the tournament favorites, Deutsche Bank AG out with fantastic 8- wicket win with five deliveries to spare.
The high riding MBSL Finance was tamed by a one man army, Asia Asset Finance versatile all rounder Nimesh Fernando. Fernando put the brakes on MBSL’s strong batting machine with an inspiring spell of bowling (4.5-016- 4) which restricted them to 157 in 24.5 overs and followed up with a gallant 64 in 59 balls with two sixes and six fours, to take Asia Asset Finance safely home with 2.5 overs to spare, 158 for 6 in 22.1 overs.
Brandix ‘B’ chasing a formidable total of 181 runs in 25 overs sledge- hammered Deutsche Bank with a belligerent, unbeaten 165- run stand for the third wicket between Madusanka Ratnayake ( 97 not out in 67 balls, hitting seven sixes and equal number of fours) and Ruchira Fernando (57 not out in 63 balls, hitting eight fours).
Earlier on, Deutsche Bank sent into bat, recovered from 3 for 38 to 153 for 4 via a steady third- wicket stand of 115 runs, between Ganganath Ratnayake (60) and Thivanka de S. Wijeratne (75 in 56 balls inclusive of four sixes and half a dozen fours).
The final between Asia Asset Finance and Brandix Essentials ‘B’ will take place this weekend, at MCA grounds, commencing 10:00am.
(Ershad Rashmishad 45, Prabath Kariapperuma 37, Chinthaka de Silva 31, Nimesh Fernando 4/16, S. Pussegolla 2/30)
(Nimesh Fernando 64, Sisira Mudalige 35, Ershad Rashmishad 2/28)
Brandix Essentials ‘B’ beat Deutsche Bank AG by 8 wickets
(Ganganath Ratnayake 60, Thivanka de S. Wijeratne 75, Ruchira Fernando 2/25, S. Yapa 2/35)
(Ruchira Fernando 57 n.o, Madushanka Ratnayake 97 n.o, Praveen Fernando 2/25)