Colombo, Galle teams in quest of the plum
Team Colombo will be led by Thisara Perera
The curtains of the Super Four Inter-Provincial Limited Over Tournament will come down today with the repeat clash between defending champions – Team Colombo and runners-up Team Galle at the R. Premadasa Stadium from 9.45am onwards.
The final was delayed for nearly a month due to the prevailing fickle weather and hopefully the weather gods will be merciful today.
On paper Team Galle, led by Upul Tharanga holds the edge against Team Colombo led by Thisara Perera.
Looking back at the performances of the two teams, Team Galle ended the round robin stage with four wins including a win against their opponents today while Team Colombo ended with three wins to their credit.
In today’s game the cream of the talent that is not bound by national duty will be in action. Team Colombo skipper Thisara will depend on their batting from allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya topped the batting with 275 runs inclusive of a ton and two half tons. Lahiru Thirimanne was their next top scorer with 272 runs with one ‘ton’. They have more talent down the list in the likes of Angelo Perera, Dilshan Munaweera, Lasith Abeyratne, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dilhan Cooray to name a few.
Their bowling revolves round spinner Lakshan Sandakan with support expected from skipper Perera, Jayasuriya, Lasith Embuldeniya, Thikshila de Silva and Dushmantha Chameera.
Upul Tharanga will lead Team Galle
Team Galle skipper Tharanga who is one of the centurions of the side topped their batting with 272 runs inclusive of two half tons. Sadeera Samarawickrama, a centurion, has a tally of 234 runs. Hard hitting Sammu Ashan (220), Ramith Rambukwella (193), Lahiru Milantha, Janith Liyanage and Bhanuka Rajapaksa will be the other good batters in their ranks.
Team Galle bowling will be spearheaded by Dasun Shanaka and Malinda Pushpakumara. However support is expected from Seekkuge Prasanna and Chathuranga de Silva.
The Teams
- Team Colombo: Thisara Perera (Captain), Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Perera, Dilhan Cooray, Chamara Silva, Dilshan Munaweera, Lasith Abeyratne, Samith Dushantha, Nisal Fransisco, Wanindu Hasaranga, Thikshila de Silva, Kavishka Anjula, Lakshan Sandakan, Sachintha Peiris, Lasith Embuldeniya, Vikum Sanjaya, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Nipun Malinga, Kamindu Mendis.
- Team Galle: Upul Tharanga (Captain), Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Milantha, Janith Liyanage, Chathuranga de Silva, Ramith Rambukwella, Madawa Warnapura, Andy Solomons, Deshan Dias, Irosh Samarasuriya, Shehan Fernando, Sammu Ashan, Seekkuge Prasanna, Chathura Randunu, Malinda Pushpakumara, Nishan Peiris, Nisala Tharaka, Mohommad Dilshad, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ashen Bandara,