Pan Asia Banking Corporation clinch C Division Limited overs title

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A crucial 05th Wicket  partnership of 70-runs in 61 balls between Saman Fernando  (76 in 65 balls, 02 sixes and 08)  and Nimanda Subasinghe  (46 in 40 balls, 4 sixes & 4 fours), gave Pan Asia Banking Corporation  a thrilling 02 wicket win over McLarens Group in the Final of the 05th Prestige Automobile  (Pvt) Ltd. sponsored,  “BMW –Hyundai”  Cup, MCA “C” division 50 Over League tournament 2016,  concluded at the  MCA Grounds on Saturday.

PABC was chasing a victory target of 258 runs in 50 Overs (RPO 5.16); in form opener Thusitha Silva departed early, but Chamika Sansaka (28) and Kanishka Prashan (42) did a quick road repair putting on 45 runs for the 2nd wicket.

Nimanda Subasinghe departed at 214 and Saman Fernando and Praveen Fernando (00) followed at 238, as the game swung towards McLarens, with the board reading 238 for 7 in the 46th over.

The pendulum swung once again for PABC when Randika Fernando, bowling his last over & the 47th of the innings, gave away 09 runs (249 for 7).

But Randika Fernando made amends by taking a brilliant catch at point to get rid of Viraj Deepal (15 in 25 balls) off skipper, Tharinda Rukshan’s bowling.  (251 for 8 in 48 overs), Leaving skipper Buddhika de Alwis and Savindra Amaradasa to survive the final charge by McLarens.

It was a do-or-die 49th over bowled by the highest wicket taker in the tournament, Piyal Dissanayake; De Alwis took the bull by the horns as he sent Dissanayake’s 3rd delivery to the fence to tie up the scores; dejected, Dissanayake bowled a wide in his next delivery, thus conceding a memorable win to PABC by 02 wickets in hand and 08 balls to spare. At the end of the day,  McLarens would have regretted that they gave away 18 runs in wides.

Earlier on, McLarens who won the toss and chose to bat on a green top, put up a challenging 257 for 08 in 50 overs. Their innings was anchored by opener, Mahel Gerom (80 in 117 balls inclusive of a six and 06 fours) and Sandaruwan Hettiarachchi (63 in 75 balls, hitting 08 fours), being associated in a 115 runs stand for the 3rd wicket; It was the 04th half century for the left handed, technically correct batsman, Mahel Gerom.       

McLarens bat deep and  it was the two PABC right arm medium pacers Anju Perera (10-45-4) and  Savindra Amaradasa  (10-46-3) who kept them at bay.

Match Referee, A.J. Samarasekera picked PABC’s Saman Fernando, as his Man of the Match.

The other 03 special awards went to  Piyal Dissanayake from McLarens, the best bowler  (176 runs / 14 wickets);  Shaminda Fernando  from McLarens, the best batsman  (382 runs including 158 not out  Vs. HSBC “A” & 114   Vs.  NTB “A”) & Aruna Henryson from Std Chartered Bank, the Man of the Series  (276 runs  inclusive of 105  Vs.  McLarens and 12 wickets.)

The awards were presented   by Christian Reuter  (Chief Guest) and Viola Karunaratne  (Guest of Honor) – both Directors  from Prestige Automobile  (Pvt) Ltd;  Niran Mahawatte, President, Nalin Wickremasinghe, General Secretary and Sanjaya Wijesinghe, Secretary /Tournament Committee – all from MCA.

Chief Scores:

McLarens – 257 for 8 in  50 Overs  (Mahel Gerom 80, Shaminda Fernando  17,  Sandaruwan Hettiarachchi 63, Basheer Bongso 26  not out, Randima Maduwantha 21,  Anju Perera  4/45,  Savindra Amaradasa  3/46)

PABC – 258 for 8  in 48.4 overs  (Chamika Sansaka  28,  Kanishka Prashan 42,  Saman Fernando 76,  Mahesh Kumara 17,  Nimanda Subasinghe 46,  Sachin Peris 2/50, Tharindu  Rukshan  3/53)