Hatton National bank beat Seylan Bank convincingly by eight wickets, to win the Mercantile Cricket Association Challenge trophy, 2001, at NCC grounds today. The star studded HNB side, captained by Russell Arnold, completely outplayed their opponents; restricting them to 153 for nine and reaching the victory target with more than 20 overs to spare and with eight wickets in hand.
Seylan came to the final full of confidence having been the only side to remain unbeaten throughout the competition and having defeated HNB in their league round encounter.
In the final,however, nothing went Seylan's way. They lost the wicket of Nuwan Shiroman in the very first over of the game, bowled by Dulip Liyanage, and from there onwards it was HNB's day. They slumped further, by losing two more wickets, with the score on eight in the sixth over of the day.
Seylan batsmen's efforts to stage a come back were in vain and if Akalanka Ganegama had taken the return catch which Mahela Jayawardene offered him when he was on 29, Seylan wouldn't have gone past the 150 mark. Jayawardene went onto make a half century with a solitary boundary and a six. He occupied the crease for 113 minutes and faced 91 balls. The only other noteworthy contribution came from the bat of Kaushalya Weerarathne, who made an unbeaten 20. In the bowling department, Akalanka Ganegama, Sajeeva Weerakoon and Kumar Dharmasena picked up two wickets apiece.
Seylan could manage only 153 for nine in their allotted 50 overs and that's not something Chaminda Vaas and co. could have defended against a strong HNB batting line up.
When HNB replied, Avihka Gunawardene, who made a fine hundred in the four day unofficial test against Pakistan A, at the same venue, continued from where he left off, to lay the foundation for an easy HNB win. He made 82 off just 76 deliveries, hitting 12 boundaries and one six, off Kaushalya Weerarathne over long off. On their way to victory HNB just lost the wickets of T.M Dilshan and Malintha Warnapura. Dilhara Fernando accounted for the wicket of Dilshan who was caught by Jayawardene while Tilan Samaraweera clean bowled Warnapura.
HNB reached the target with just two wickets down in 28.2 overs with Gunawardene on 82 and Chamara Silva on 21. Gunawardene was declared man of the match.
© CricInfo
| Teams | Sri Lanka. |
| Players/Umpires | Nuwan Shiroman, Dulip Liyanage, Akalanka Ganegama, Mahela Jayawardene, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Thilan Samaraweera, Avishka Gunawardene. |
| Tournaments | Mercantile Cricket Association Challenge Trophy |
| Scorecard | Final : Hatton National Bank v Seylan Bank, 24 June 2001 |
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