In a repeat final of 2024, Dialog Axiata PLC will seek sweet revenge over HNB “B”, when they meet each other once again, in the 7th Fairfirst Insurance sponsored, MCA “F” Division 25-Over League Tournament Final 2025, on Saturday, 3 May at the MCA Grounds, commencing 9.45 a.m.
HNB “B” beat Dialog Axiata by 7 wickets in the previous final, played on 7 April 2024 at the MCA grounds; Dialog Axiata batting first scored 142 for 9 in 25 overs and HNB “B” replied with 143 for 3 in 20.1 overs.
This year 26 teams pooled into 4 groups participated in the tournament, where HNB “B”, played in Group “A” alongside Unilever Sri Lanka, EB Creasy, Union Bank, Empire Tea and Seylan Bank; at the completion of the round robin, HNB “B” finished their group stage unbeaten with four wins and one no-decision, thereby qualifying for the knock-out stage.
In the elimination round, HNB “B” beat Camera LK in the pre quarter finals, Pizza Hut in the quarter finals and English Tea Shop in the semi finals.
HNB “B” top performers with the bat and the ball were Mahen Silva (8 innings 290 runs), Venuk Hettiarachchi (17 wickets for 156 runs) and Achintha Supun (14 wickets for 139 runs).
Dialog Axiata PLC played in Group “D” in the league stage alongside Softlogic Life Insurance, MAS Active, Atire Ltd., Pizza Hut, Ansell Textile and Emerchemie NB; Dialog Axiata also finished unbeaten in their group with four wins and two no-decisions and qualified for the knock-out stage.
In the elimination round they beat Siam City Cement in the pre quarter finals, Seylan Bank in the quarter finals and MAS Active in the semi finals.
Dialog Axiata top performers with the bat and the ball were Rajitha Ranatunga (7 innings 211 runs), Moditha Weerasinghe (19 wickets for 165 runs) and Damith Weerasinghe (13 wickets for 167 runs).
The MCA appointed Match Referee for the final is Manoj Perera.
The teams:
Dialog Axiata PLC: Damith Weerasinghe (Captain), Chandula Premanath, Kaushal Perera, Moditha Weerasinghe, Pasindu Bandaranayake, Rajitha Ranatunga, Sithum Silva, Pubudu Ganegama, Tharin Weerasinghe, Dulara Madushanka, Aathif Siddhique, U. Sumanasinghe, T. Anurudha, S. Abeywardena and A. Kalhara.
HNB “B”: Ashen Fernando (Captain/WK), Damith Hunukumbura, Ikram Razick, Mahen Silva, Naveen Kanishka, Pasindu Adithya, Madushan Pathirage, Saviru Bandara, Achintha Supun, Venuk Hettiarachchi, Dineth Mallawarachchi, A. Perera, D. Perera, R. Amarasinghe and R. Hettiarachchi.
The spectators can watch the action of this final encounter LIVE on ThePapare 1 (Dialog TV Ch. 62), Dialog ViU App and ThePapare.com from 09:30 AM onwards.
