SSC stick another feather in their cap
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The SSC cricket squad for the 2017/2018 season
As for the Sinhalese Sports Club a wait of three years is definitely a lifetime. Yet, the championship that eluded them for three years have been retained. What is unique about this year’s championship that it was won by the budding youngsters that represented club, whilst most of the senior players were on national duty in South Africa and Australia. This signifies the depth of cricket talent, scouted and nurtured by the SSC, has yielded the fruit of exuberant youth prevailing in the Club.
The performance of the players does not reflect very much in the statistics. This is due to the fact that most players were on national duty at given times and the players that replaced the national players were equal to the task. As for the batting as many as six centuries and 23 half centuries were scored towards winning the championship. The centuries were scored by Danushka Gunatilake [2], Dimuth Karunaratna [2], Minodh Banuka [1] and Sachitra Senanayake [1] and out of the 23 half centuries Charith Asalanka the Under 19 Schoolboy Cricketer of the year and under 19 national captain lead the way by scoring five half centuries. In terms of the bowling, Sachitra Senanayake lead the way by capturing 43 wickets along with J D F Vandersay behind him with 39 wickets. Vandersay also ended up with 2 match bags of 10 wickets, whilst Vimukthi Perera chipped in with 25 and Kasun Madushanka 27 wickets.
Danushka Gunatilake led the batting averages with 70.0 and a strike rate of 79.24 by scoring 2 centuries and 2 half centuries in as many as seven innings. Kosala Kulasekera with 415 runs with 3 half centuries, Minod Banuka with 474 runs with a highest score of 146 runs to his name and a half century along with Dasun Shanaka with four half centuries too made valuable contributions towards SSC annexing the championship.
To cap it all Sachitra Senanayake was the best player of the team by scoring 380 runs and not only capturing 43 wickets but also responsible for 18 catches which speaks in volumes of his ability to perform under pressure at times using all his international experience to lead SSC to the Championship.
Dimuth Karunaratne
To say the least the diehard Cricket Committee headed by the dynamic and charismatic Trinity / SSC fast bowler of yesteryear and Sri Lanka poolist Samantha Dodanwela, a first Class cricketer by repute and his able Committee that comprises of a yet another group of first class cricketers of no mean repute, Mahinda Halangoda, Michael De Zoysa, Thilina Kandambi, Shamal De Silva, and Cricket Coordinator Naveen Perera.
The Cricket Committee has also gone a step further in obtaining the services of a brilliant all-rounder, during his time, by appointing Gayan Wijekoon as the Head Coach together with another first class cricketer as its Manager namely Sudharshan Guruge, to bring about the required skill acquisition, mental toughness and disciplines that is the hall mark of a Champion side.
The SSC Executive Committee spearheaded by Tommy Elawela the President has also given the required impetus by obtaining a lucrative sponsorship and also provided the players further, with the required facilities by way of Gym, Indoor facilities, side and center turf training facilities along with a swimming pool to ensure that the players are well looked after and managed in water based training and recoveries. The additional support staff by way of a fielding coach, qualified and well experienced physio and trainer has been along with the team together with Gayan in guiding them to the cherished prestigious domestic championship 2016/2017.
Samantha
The younger players that represent SSC from the outstation has been provided with in house dormitory facilities, nourishment and medical facilities to ensure that all players are well managed this is in addition to the players been paid a match fee that has been deposited to the players account on a regular basis. The present groups of SSC youngsters are now challenging the senior players by finding their way into SLC development squads and SLC team proper.
The players that have excelled during the season has once again caught the eye of the National Selectors and few of them have found their way to play against Bangladesh, ICC Champions Trophy in England and the touring Zimbabwe national Team, whilst a few players have taken wing to play competitive league cricket in England.
SSC is now planning to take part in the International Club T20 Tournament with the invitation of Singapore Cricket club, which will be held from 11th to 14th of August 2017.
During the last five occasions this tournament was held, SSC won thrice and also became the inaugural Champions.