SSC, NCC battle for supremacy in final showdown
The curtains of the Sri Lanka Cricket Under-23 Division I cricket tournament will come down next week with the final clash between traditional rivals and neighbours SSC and NCC. The match is scheduled to be played on August 29, 30 and 31 at Colts.
The two sides came out on top in their respective groups with SSC ending their campaign with an unbeaten record. They secured four outright wins and two first innings wins. NCC too had four outright wins a first inning win but underwent an outright defeat.
SSC led by Sanka Ramesh recorded outright wins over Navy SC by innings, Ragama CC by 10 wickets, Air Force SC by 7 wickets and Tamil Union by 174 runs and the first inning wins were against Negombo CC at Bloomfield.
NCC led by Niroshan Dickwella who in fact was unable to play the full season due national duties secured outright wins against CCC by 117 runs, Moratuwa SC by 8 wickets and SLPA CC and Army SC by innings while losing outright to Colts and gaining a first inning win over Moors SC.
However NCC for the final clash will be strengthened as Niroshan Dickwella will be back and his experience of having played in the Test matches against South Africa and Pakistan is no doubt going to be of great help to them.
Niroshan has had a successful stint in the Premier League tournament and was one of the key members of the side that clinched the league title.
Apart from him NCC will pin their hopes on their centurions Sandun Weerakkody, Pawan Wickramasinghe who has made the top score of the tournament with a knock of 182 and Lahiru Madusanka.
Pawan and Sandun have been in top form right throughout the first round matches with the former having three half tons and the latter two and they will no doubt be the players for SSC to keep an eye on. NCC have in their ranks allrounder Tharindu Kaushal who has three half tons under his belt, William Bosisto, Lahiru Udara and Saveen Nanayakkara who are capable of making useful contributions to bolster the sides’ score.
NCC’s bowling will be spearheaded by their top spinner Tharindu Kaushal who in fact has been the top wicket taker with over 50 scalps and a best return of 7 for 57.
To support Tharindu there are three others Saranga Rajaguru, Saveen Nanayakkara and Ravindu Tillekeratne who all three have been in the wickets in the tournament.
SSC on the other hand though they don’t posses any centurions they have the batsmen in the likes of skipper Sanka, Kavindu Kulasekera, Minod Bhanuka, Dasun Shanaka, Kasun Madusanka and Pethum Madusanka who could provide them with a match winning score.
In the bowling department SSC posses a host of bowlers in the likes of Kasun Madusanka, Binura Fernando, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Chamika Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, skipper Ramesh and Ramindu Kumarasinghe who will be expected to combine to curtail the strong NCC batting.
NCC since Sajith Fernando took over their coaching has had a successful campaign as they clinched the Premier League title after finishing runner up in the limited over tournament.
They will no doubt looking forward to add another trophy to their cupboard but their traditional rivals SSC who are unbeaten would leave no stone unturned to spoil the NCC party and also they too will be coming into the game with the intention of ending their campaign on a winning note.
| The teams:
SSC: Sanka Ramesh (Capt), Dasun Shanaka, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Kavindu Kulasekera, Binura Fernando, Harith Maduwantha, Vishwa Wijeratne, Kasun Madusanka, Minod Bhanuka, Ramindu Kumarasinghe, Pasindu Madushan, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Pethum Madusanka |