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Mercantile ‘A’ division league champion team Fairfax Insurance Ltd.
Fairfirst Insurance Limited (formally Union Assurance General) won the Mercantile ‘A’ division league cricket title in their first year of competition at the highest division. They beat a field of seven other teams to emerge on top of the league with 24 points, seven more than runner-up Hayleys Group, and eight more than third placed CDB ‘A’, the other two strong teams in the league.
Last year Fairfirst Insurance Ltd became Mercantile ‘B’ division champions and their head coach Ramachandra Sridhar put their success this year down to “wonderful team work”. Captained by Moditha Ranatunga, the son of former Sri Lanka cricketer Sanjeewa Ranatunga, Fairfirst Insurance Ltd had a lot of national players in their team, but none of them current.
“We have about 5-6 all-rounders and everyone performed well and contributed to the team,” said Sridhar. “Mainly what we did was, we analysed the other teams’ strengths and weaknesses before the match and picked the teams accordingly. We had the highest number of runs and wickets in the tournament – Anuk Fernando made 302 runs (avg. 50.33) and Thanuka Dabare took 18 wickets (avg. 14.06).”
In his brief career as a cricket coach this is the fifth title that Sridhar has won. He guided the Sri Lanka Navy Women’s team to three championship titles, and Fairfirst Insurance Ltd to two – Mercantile ‘B’ division and Mercantile ‘A’ division league.“When I joined Fairfirst Insurance Ltd 1½ years ago we were playing in the ‘E’ division and became runner-up, losing the final. After winning the Mercantile ‘B’ division title they offered me a job at Fairfirst Insurance Ltd. I am into Sales Insurance. I work for the firm and also coach them,” said Sridhar, a Sri Lanka Cricket qualified Level 2 coach.
“I am not an arrogant coach, I try to be friendly with everyone. I get the feedback from the players and I do whatever is convenient to them. If I have to put some spices only, I help them out, otherwise, I just motivate them. I always try to get the maximum out from players.”
“I like to thank the company management. Our boss, the head of Sales, Sanjaya Siriwardena motivates us a lot. There is also former national cricketer Eric Upashantha who is the senior manager and mentor of the team and CEO Sandeep Gopal.”
“We have the same teams playing in the MCA ‘A’ division knockout. They have postponed it to 7 May because of the bad weather. We are trying our best to win the double,” said Sridhar. (ST)
Fairfax Insurance Ltd Squad: Anuk Fernando, Thanuka Dabare, Moditha Ranatunga (captain), Asel Sigera, Minod Bhanuka, Krishan Sanjula, Wanuja Sahan, Umesh Lakshan, Chamika Gunasekera (vice-captain), Heshan Danushka, Koshan Danushka, Lahiru Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Dulip Silva, Prashein Fernando, Ishara Perera and Naveen Dilsara.
