SSC-Police SC declared joint champions in rain ruined final

SSC Captain Nipun Dananjaya and Police SC Captain Ashain Bandara share the trophy as joint champions.

• Police SC Coach slams cricket authorities for picking unsuitable venue

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Player of the Final – Avishka Fernando (SSC)

Player of the Tournament – Ravindu Fernando (Tamil Union)

Best Batsman of the Tournament – Lahiru Udara (NCC)

Best Bowler of the Tournament – Malinda Pushpakumara (Police SC)

SSC and Police SC were declared joint champions of the SLC Major Club 3-day tournament when the 4-day final ended in a draw at the NCC grounds yesterday with rain taking the upper hand in the contest.

The fourth and final day’s play yesterday was also abandoned without a ball bowled despite perfect sunshine during the day and ironically not a drop of rain. The bone of contention was part of the ground near the sight screen on the right side of the pavilion which was soggy right throughout the last three days that allowed only 10 balls to be bowled.

Unlike at international matches the entire ground was not covered, and this resulted in the affected area not drying out sufficiently due to the overnight rains experienced each day.

There were several opinions expressed after the match was abandoned yesterday – had super soppers and extra covers been made available there could have been more play in the final three days. The entire contest over the four days saw only 64.4 overs bowled and SSC batting first scoring 254-3.

Police SC Head Coach Chamara Silva slammed the cricket authorities for not picking on a suitable venue to play the final.

“It was disappointing to see that the last three days when there was hardly any rain, we did not play any cricket. Only 1.4 overs were bowled in the three days. This is the main domestic tournament and it should have been better organised, knowing that there was bad weather around,” said Silva. “It is unfair on the players to be deprived of the experience of playing in a final. If it had rained continuously I could understand, but the way the final ended was rather disappointing.” 

“Our team performed extremely well during the season and if we were able to play the final on the four days, we could learn how well the players adapted to such a situation. The players lost a good opportunity of gaining that experience.”

On Police SC winning their maiden cricket title, Silva said, “I got to know that it is the first time in the 150-year history of Police SC that they have reached a cricket final. It was a really creditable achievement for the players as well as the management that we became joint champs.”

SSC Head Coach Saman Jayantha also expressed his disappointment that there were only 10 balls bowled in the last three days of the final. “Very disappointed that we could not have a game of cricket. After the first day we were in a strong position. There was an area in the ground which was muddy that prevented any play on the last three days. As both teams had national players the umpires didn’t want to take a risk playing on such a surface.”

On SSC reaching the final, Jayantha said, “Each and every player contributed to SSC’s success during the season. Everyone played as a team and as one family. That is the reason why we were able to qualify for the final.”

For SSC it is the third time since 1988-89 when domestic cricket in Sri Lanka was recognised as first-class, that they had to share the title. The first was in 1988-89 with NCC and the second occasion was in 1994-95 with Bloomfield.

The total prize money of Rs. 2.5 million to the winner and runner-up was shared by the two teams SSC and Police SC. Individual awards were: Player of the Final (Rs. 200,000) – Avishka Fernando (SSC), Best Bowler of the Tournament (Rs. 300,000) – Malinda Pushpakumara (Police SC), Best Batsman of the Tournament (Rs. 300,000) – Lahiru Udara (NCC), and Player of the Tournament (Rs. 500,000) – Ravindu Fernando (Tamil Union).

Sri Lanka Cricket National Development Centre Head Kamal Dharmasiri, made the presentations at the end of the match.

Scores: SSC 254-3 (Shevon Daniel 56, Avishka Fernando 107, Nipun Dananjaya 40, Kusal Mendis 29*) v Police SC.