Colts, SSC should be wary of Lankan CC and Badureliya CC

Damith Silva (Lankan CC U23 captain)

Dunith Jayathunga (Badureliya CC U23 captain)

Sammu Ashan (SSC U23 captain)

Vishad Randika (Colts U23 captain)

• SLC Major Club Youth (U23) resumes after 4 months

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Following an unusual break of four months due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the SLC Major Club Youth (Under 23) resumes today with the semi-finals where the four group leaders have qualified to play in the knockout round.

Colts who won the title last year will defend their crown when they take on Lankan CC at the P Sara Oval, while SSC and Badureliya CC meet in the second semi-final at the NCC grounds. The winners will meet in the final on Sunday at the SSC grounds for a prize money of Rs. 500,000 with the runner-up collecting Rs. 300,000 and the Man of the Final Rs. 50,000.

According to Tournament Committee President Bandula Dissanayake, strict health guidelines will be followed but the players and officials will have only their body temperatures checked and not have to undergo any PCR tests. The matches will be played behind closed gates sans spectators.   

On paper Colts and SSC look the likely teams to go through to the final being the only two clubs to come through the group stage unbeaten by winning all their matches. They also carry a lot of firepower in their batting ranks and have a varied bowling attack to suit all conditions. This is reflected by them gaining the most number of bonus points in the tournament – SSC 5 from six matches and Colts 4 from five games.

However maintaining a winning trend can also have its repercussions as the winning side without losing will not know where their weak points lie. This is something that both Colts and SSC must guard against for both their opponents have tasted defeat at some point during the group stage and know exactly where they have gone wrong.

Colts and SSC have in their ranks some of the most outstanding and talented schoolboy cricketers who have shone in the tournament, but they will be handicapped by a few who are either injured or have gone on the tour to West Indies.

Colts will be at a disadvantage somewhat as they will not have two key players in their ranks

Sri Lanka national player Avishka Fernando who is nursing an injury and has missed out on the white ball tour to West Indies and under 19 World Cup left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka who has been picked for the West Indies tour. However Colts’ leading wicket-taker is slow left-arm orthodox bowler Rohan Sanjaya who figures in the top ten list of bowlers with 11 wickets at an average of 10.

SSC has the most number of under 19 cricketers who represented the country recently – three of them Nipun Dananjaya, Kavindu Nadeeshan and Dilum Thilakaratne who played in the 2020 Under 19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, and under 19 cricketer Chamindu Wickramasinghe. Dananjaya the Sri Lanka Under 19 World Cup skipper and opener has been in exceptional form scoring a hundred and three fifties to be easily the leading run-getter in the tournament with 376 runs at an average of 75.20. What SSC will miss is the services of Ashen Bandara, rated as one of the best fielders in the country who is currently touring West Indies with the Sri Lanka limited overs side.  

Lankan CC’s opener Sawan Kankanamge is the only other batsman from the four semi-finalist teams to figure in the top 10 run-getters list and also make a hundred – against Ragama CC in their 103-run win. They have a Sri Lankan under 19 cricketer in their ranks in left-arm medium-fast bowler Yasiru Rodrigo.

Badureliya CC doesn’t boast of any big names but have turned up with some gutsy performances that make them a dangerous side not to be treated lightly.

The semi-finals were scheduled to take place on 7 October but due to the spread of the pandemic there followed a four-month break, thus there is a likelihood that batsmen and bowlers who were in peak form at the time will struggle to find their feet and the players who can adapt quickly only will succeed.   

Teams

Colts: Vishad Randika (captain/wk), Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Heshan Danushka, Santhush Gunathilaka, Jehan Daniel, Nipun Malinga, Rohan Sanjaya, Nipun Ransika, Amantha Gunaratna, Hanshaja Jayasinghe, Dilshan Madanayake, Sulekshana Wijewardena, Dilshan Madushanka.

Lankan CC: Damith Silva (captain), Vishwa Chaturanga, Sawan Kankanamge, Kevin Perera, Lahiru Dilshan, Kasun Abeyratne (wk), Dunith Wellalage, Methsith Jayamanne, Yasiru Rodrigo, Sadun Sathsara, Vinuda Liyanage.

SSC: Sammu Ashan (captain), Nipun Dananjaya, Krishan Sanjula (wk), Sohan de Livera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Himesh Ramanayake, Kavindu Nadeeshan, Dilum Thilakaratne, Ahan Sachintha, Kalana Perera.   

Badureliya CC: Dunith Jayathunga (captain), Nishitha Abilash, Kosala Ravindu, Mithira Thenura, Avishka Lakshan, Ranesh Silva (wk), Avindu Theekshana, Ruchira Koshitha, Thamindu Wickramaarachchi, Rasanjana Silva, Nirmala Ratnayake, Ramesh Madushanka, Sheran Fonseka, Malinda Jayod.