A fighting run a ball, 75 runs partnership for the seven wicket between Anuk Fernando (74 not out in 89 balls, inclusive of a six and 6 fours) and Koshan Abeywickrama (50 in 36 balls, inclusive of 4 sixes and 1 four) guided Fairfirst Insurance to a heart stopping two wickets win over Maliban Biscuit Manufactories in the Final of the National Development Bank (NDB) sponsored – MCA Premier League /White ball 50 Over League Tournament 2022, concluded at the MCA Grounds, on Saturday(30).

Fairfirst Insurance chasing a victory target of 230-runs in 50 overs was perilously placed at six down for 136 runs in the 33rd over.

At the fall of Moditha Ranatunga (14 in 28 balls), Koshan Jayawickrama joined Anuk Fernando and immediately broke the shackles by hitting four mighty sixes, thus propelling the total to 211.

Maliban bowlers fought tooth and nail and got rid of Jayawickrama and number nine batsman, Pubudu Bandara (01) and got back to the game (213 for 8 in 45 overs), but then they blundered, as their wicket keeper, Gihan Anuruddha dropped Anuk Fernando off paceman Chamara Ratnayake with Fairfirst needing 15 runs to win with two wickets in hand.

Anuk Fernando used his new lease of life to his team’s advantage by hitting a glorious six to take Fairfirst over the line ten balls to spare. With him was No. 10 batsman Suwath Mendis (09 not out in 14 balls)

Maliban Biscuits, who won the toss and batted scored 229 all out in 49.2 overs, their innings anchored by a gutsy century by one drop batsman, Mohamed Shamzi (107 in 126 balls, inclusive of two sixes and eight fours). Shamzi was associated in a 82 runs partnership in 126 balls with No. 06 batsman, Anjula Perera (38 in 64 balls), which bailed them out from being 57 for 4 in 11 overs. Koshan Jayawickrama bowled menacingly to finish with 10-1-35-3 whilst Asel Sigera delivered a containing spell of 10-1-28-1.

Match Referee, Sena Nandiweera named Anuk Fernando from Fairfirst Insurance as his Man of the Match.

The other three special awards were based on performances up to the Semi Finals. Chamod Pushpa Battage from Softlogic Life was the Best Bowler. He had a haul of 20 wickets for 154 runs, bowling 52 overs in seven matches.

Anuk Fernando from Fairfirst Insurance, who accumulated 346 runs in five innings with five half centuries was the Best Batsman.

Maliban Biscuits Captain, Tharindu Siriwardena, was the Man of the Series (7 innings, 416 runs, 3 not outs, inclusive of 2 centuries and 2 half centuries; 52 overs, 174 runs, 11 wickets).

The awards were given away by Chief Guest, Vice President/ Head of Treasury, NDB Bank and MCA President 2015/17, Niran Mahawatte and MCA officials, Nalin Wickramasinghe, President, Mahesh de Alwis, Senior VP and Chairman, Tournament Committee and Tarindra Kaluperuma, General Secretary.

Chief Scores

Maliban Biscuits – 229 in 49.2 overs (Mohamed Shilmi 107, Anjula Perera 38; Koshan Jayawickrama 3/35, Anuk Fernando 3/53)

Fairfirst Insurance – 234 for 8 in 48.3 overs (Lakshan Perera 32, Hashan Dumindu 21, Anuk Fernando 74 not out, Koshan Jayawickrama 50; Nishan Perera 2/47)