Cricket resumes today after COVID-19

A domestic cricket match in progress

• Focus on national cricketers returning to action

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The first step towards resumption of competitive cricket following the COVID-19 outbreak in March commences when the Sri Lanka Cricket Premier Super Eight and Premier Plate second round matches are to be played at seven venues from today.

All the matches will be played under strict health regulations and Tournament Committee Chairman Bandula Dissanayake assured that everything has been put in place for the resumption of the domestic tournament which was put on hold from the first week of March.

“We got a PHI certificate for every venue. The Public Health Inspectors inspected the various venues and then issued the certificates. We have also done our part with sanitisers and other requirements,” said Dissanayake.

The matches (three-day duration) will be played at the P. Sara Oval (Colts v Saracens), SSC grounds (Sri Lanka Army v NCC), CCC Grounds (BRC v Chilaw Marians) and Katunayake (CCC v Ragama CC) in the Premier Super Eight and, at NCC grounds (SSC v Tamil Union), Colts grounds (Moors SC v Badureliya CC) and Moratuwa Stadium (Negombo CC v Lankan CC) in the Premier Plate.

“While the matches are in progress we have appointed people to monitor that the health regulations as laid down by the Institute of Sports Medicine are strictly followed,” said Dissanayake.

Defending champions CCC start off as favourites to retain the Premier League title for another year. They will be off the blocks enjoying an 11-point lead over their nearest rivals NCC.

CCC are in fact the only unbeaten team in the Super Eight coming in to the second round with three outright wins in as many matches. Sri Lanka batsman Kusal Mendis is expected to lead them and he has an array of national cricketers in the line-up like Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage, Minod Bhanuka, Ashan Priyanjan, Lahiru Madushanka and Malinda Pushpakumara.  

Ragama CC who are placed second from the bottom of the Super Eight standings will have a tough task in trying to contain CCC although they have the likes of Test cricketers Lahiru Thirimanne and Roshen Silva and left-arm spinner Amila Aponso.

Former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal will turn out for Sri Lanka Army against his former club NCC when they meet at the SSC Grounds. Chandimal is trying to resurrect a chequered international career and win a permanent slot in the national Test team having lost his place in the ODIs and T20Is. Expected to play alongside Chandimal is team mate Thisara Perera who also joined the Sri Lanka Army.

NCC are expected to be boosted with the return of Test wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella. They also have Test bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Lasith Embuldeniya and Chamika Karunaratne, and the experience of Angelo Perera and former players Upul Tharanga, Mahela Udawatte and Chathuranga de Silva.   Colts will be strengthened by the return of former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews. They will also expect Kusal Perera to lead them if he is fit, and will call upon the experience of off-spinner Dilruwan Perera. Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Akila Dananjaya, and Prabath Jayasuriya – all national players – make an exciting combination.

Under national cricketer Milinda Siriwardana, Saracens SC has performed creditably well to qualify for the Super Eight. Although they don’t boast of many national stars in their line-up (the only other player is Kasun Rajitha), the team is immensely talented to spring a surprise or two as they have shown in the first round by thrashing Ragama CC by an innings and taking vital first innings points off Tamil Union and Lankan CC who have been demoted to play in the Plate championship.

Chilaw Marians start favourites to beat BRC who are at the bottom of the Super Eight standings. The Marians have in their midst Test opener Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando and Thikshila de Silva. BRC will bank heavily on national players Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Tharindu Kaushal.

In the Plate tournament amongst the past and present national players who are expected to turn out for their respective club sides are: Dasun Shanaka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sandun Weerakkody, Jeffrey Vandersay and Dhammika Prasad (all from SSC), and, Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Jeevan Mendis, Kithruwan Vithanage and Tharanga Paranavitana (all from Tamil Union).   

A prize money of Rs. 1 million awaits the winner with the runner-up collecting Rs. 750,000. There are individual prize moneys of Rs. 250,000 each for Best Batsman, Best Bowler and Man of the Tournament.