Cricket: Unbeaten Chilaw Marians take on Army in Under-23 L/O final

The curtains of the Sri Lanka Cricket Under-23 Division I Limited Over Tournament will come down with the final clash for the plum between Chilaw Marians and Army at the SSC ground in Colombo today (24).

The match will begin at 9.30am. 

Of the two teams Chilaw Marians led by Rukshan Fernando is the only team to remain unbeaten since the tournament began on July 4 by winning their five league matches followed by the quarter and semi-final encounters. 

On the other hand Army SC led by Nisal Fransisco on their way to the final lost one match in the league stage but they ended up as group leaders before winning their quarter and semi-final matches.
 
But even then the two sides’ are evenly balanced as they posses some of the talented and up and coming youngsters who have shown their ability in this version of the game. 

In the run up to the final Chilaw Marians slotted in Group D had a clean run securing wins over Badureliya CC by eight runs, Galle CC by 75 runs, Kalutara TC by 58 runs, Lankan CC by six wickets and SSC by 85 runs. 

In the quarter-final they cruised through to a five wicket win over Navy SC and then recorded a comfortable 104 runs win against SSC whom they defeated for the second time in the semi-final. 

Army SC slotted in Group C started off their campaign with a bang by recording a massive 186 runs win over Ragama CC and followed it up with wins against SLPA CC by 147 runs, KYCC by seven wickets, Police SC by 51 runs before going down to Colts CC by two wickets. 

In the quarter-final they recorded a close eight runs win over Saracens SC but came back to secure a convincing seven wicket win over CCC in the semi-final. 

Chilaw Marians skipper Rukshan has had a fair stint in the tournament so far and has been in the runs with a best of an unbeaten 89 against Lankan CC and he has a host of talented players in the likes of Kasun Vidura, Lakkana Jayasekera, Risth Upamal, Nirwantha Thikshila and Chalana de Silva to guide the side in the batting department. 

Chalana is their top wicket-taker and he along with Kasun, Charith Rajapakse, Ayana Siriwardena, Rajika Dilshan and Raveen Yasas will be expected to make their contributions to restrict their opponents. 

Army SC skipper Leo has been in fine form and has two halt tons under his belt and would be expected to keep that up for others to gain confidence. 

Much will be expected from Himasha Liyanage the only centurion from either side having made an unbeaten 128 against Ragama CC and Ashan Randika who cracked an 85 against CCC in the semi-final, the duo along with Dilshan de Soyza, Shashin Dilranga, Sanjika Ridma and Yohan de Silva’s contribution is going to vital for the Soldiers. 

Sanjika along with Yohan has been in the forefront of Army SC’s bowling and they will be expecting the support of Nalin Perera, Malka Madusanka and Dilshan to curtail their opponents. 

Chilaw Marians CC has had success in the past in this tournament having won the title on six occasions the last being in the year 2009 under the captaincy of Umesh Karunaratne, also they have ended up as runners up thrice and no doubt they will be seeking to win the title for the seventh time. 

But Army SC too will be coming into the game with the intention of winning their maiden title having qualified to the final of this tournament for the first time, so they are not going to be easy nuts to crack and for sure a keen tussle can be expected. 

Chilaw Marians: Rukshan Fernando (Capt), Kasun Vidura, Lakkana Jayasekera, Chalana de Silva, Risith Upamal, Ayana Siriwaredena, Kanishka Uggalpaya, Nirwantha Thikshila, Shehan Fernando, Dilshan Sanjeewa, Raveen Yasas, Charith Rajapakse, Rajika Dilshan, Lahiru Samarakoon, Shashin Fernando. 

Army SC: Leo Fransisco (Capt), Ashan Randika, Shashin Dilranga, Himasha Liyanage, Sanjika Ridma, Nalin Perera, Yohan de Silva, Nilanka Laksiri, Thilina Sampath, Dilshan de Soyza, Malka Madusanka, Sanjeewa Kumaraswami, Kasun Mahela, Shanaka Nirmal, Ashen Malesha.