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On a day in July that fortunately saw a drop in temperatures after the heatwave of the preceding week, ESBA took on the Sri Lankan Cricket Club at Happy Valley, in what was in effect the final of the Cyprus Cricket League. Both teams were unbeaten through the six games of the season, and although ESBA were without their prolific all rounder Steve Ballard, the game promised to be a keen competition between two evenly balanced sides.

ESBA batted first and opening pair Khan and Captain Roger Thompson faced a truly daunting pace attack from Sri Lankan opening bowlers Shamira and Niroshan.   Sri Lankan CC then turned to the leg spin of Pradeep and with the medium pace of Ognuka, and Sampat, they effectively kept ESBA scoring rate under control. Healy and Jones settled down into ESBA's second batting partnership, both scoring and defending in equal measure. But the time had come for risks as the run rate needed to increase in the final overs. But despite Jones' best efforts, the surge needed to post a really effective total never materialised, snuffed out by tight bowling from Sampat, Askar and Nalak. Jones went on to score 37 not out, to give ESBA a fighting total of 147 for 6 after 30 overs.

At half time the Sri Lankan CC were probably the happier of the two teams, but ESBA's particular strength through the season had been in their ability to strangle their opposition's batting with consistent and accurate medium pace bowlng. However this did not seem to work so well against the Sri Lankan opening pair. The free hitter Askar supported by the solid Dhanuka started scoring from the off, laying in to ESBA's normally parsimonious opening bowling partnership, Thompson and Healy.   The game was quickly slipping away from ESBA, with the Sri Lankans bettering their run rate by quite a good distance, without loosing wickets. Only with the bowling change of Duke and Bean, both medium pace, was Askar dismissed for 40 by Bean.  But the breakthrough offered little comfort as it brought Dileepa and Niroshan to the crease. Dileepa has already shown his batting ability with a 63 and a 50 no in earlier games, and he soon justified his reputation.  Despite the return of ESBA's opening bowlers Thompson and Healy, Dileepa was not to be contained, finishing in fine style with two sixes in the last over from Thompson to take the game. Dileepa finished 58 not out.
 
The Sri Lankans, 152 for 2 after 23.3 overs, were the 2004 league champions.

After the game, Chairman of the Cyprus Cricket Association, Steve Carr, offered the man of the match award to Dileepa. Thanks go to all the teams taking part in the competiton, to Natalex for providing the trophies and to Elias Beach for providing space at their country club to play cricket.