Two strong bowling sides contest SLC Major L/O final

Army SC team

Tamil Union team

• Tamil Union defends title against Army SC

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Tamil Union coach Sachith Pathirana

Army SC coach Roger Wijesuriya

Two teams with strong bowling attacks – defending Champions Tamil Union and Army SC will compete for the prize money worth Rs. 1 million in the final of the SLC Major Limited-Over inter-club tournament at the SSC grounds today.

With the return of Sri Lanka cricketers from national duty both sides are expected to be at full strength and a good hard-fought battle is on the cards.

Tamil Union under the guidance of coach Sachith Pathirana, a former Sri Lanka white ball cricketer are brimming with confidence having won their last eight matches on the trot, and also having first-hand knowledge of how the SSC pitch will play as their semi-final match against CCC was played there two days ago.

“Bowling has been our strength both spin and pace. We played a combination of five bowlers and six batters throughout and have been able to keep the opposition down to low scores. Depending on the wicket hope to play the same combination for the final tomorrow,” said Pathirana.

“We have Pramod Madushan, Isuru Udana and Shiran Fernando, and Kavindu Pathiratne a youngster from Royal, these four only played as fast bowlers in the tournament. Then there are spinners Dilruwan Perera, Dilum Sudeera and Jeffrey Vandersay. As an all-rounder Navod Paranavithana and since the semi-finals Dhananjaya de Silva has also come into the team after national duty, so we have an additional spinner.”

The two matches Tamil Union lost out of the 13 matches they played - to SSC at the SSC and to NCC at the P. Sara Oval was towards the beginning of the season when they were trying to get their combinations right. Once that was done, they have proved to be unbeatable.     

“The toss hasn’t been a problem. We have chased and won thrice as well as batted first and won five times in our last eight games. I am confident whether we bat or bowl first we can win,” said Pathirana.

One of the combinations that has worked well for them is promoting former Sri Lanka off-spinner Dilruwan Perera to open the batting.

“As we are going with a 6-5 combination our batting depth was a bit short, so we used Dilruwan to open to rectify it. Since we promoted him to open the innings, we have not moved him from that spot. His presence alone and his massive experience is a big benefit to us. He has scored over 300 runs and taken more than 25 wickets,” said Pathirana. 

“In our final 11 for tomorrow definitely one of the national players will have to sit it out because our bench is very strong. When the national players were not there it is the other players who performed well. Because of them we have reached the final, so we have to give priority to them during selection,” he said.

Sizing up their opponents Army SC, Pathirana said: “The coach of the Army SC team Roger Wijesuriya was my coach when I captained the Sri Lanka U19 team in 2007. Basically, Army are a very experienced side with (Dinesh) Chandimal, Thisara Perera who has performed throughout the tournament, Seekkuge Prasanna and Asela Gunaratne. There is also Maheesh Theekshana and an exciting leg-spinner Suminda Lakshan. It will be a very competitive final.”

Roger Wijesuriya, a former Sri Lanka Test and ODI cricketer took over as coach of the Army team in June and was instrumental in guiding them to their first major title – the SLC Major T20. In the SLC Major Limited-Over Army SC had twice reached the semi-finals before and lost. Now that they have reached the final, they are keen to add another silverware to their collection. “The main thing in Army SC’s success is the leadership qualities of Thisara Perera. Add to that we have Chandimal, Theekshana, Prasanna, Asela and Lakshan and we have a strong unit,” said Wijesuriya. “Most of the matches we were hitting 250-280 and getting the other sides out cheaply because of our bowling. Prasanna for instance is bowling better than he was when he was playing for the country. Bowling has been our strong point with two quickies Asanka Manoj and Rashmika Siriwardena bowling at 130-140 kph and Prasanna and Suminda with their leg-breaks.” Army SC will be without Sri Lanka cricketer Dinesh Chandimal who will miss the final due to a family bereavement. Himasha Liyanage will take the number four slot in his place. The batting order as given by coach Wijesuriya is Prasanna and Randika opening, Edirisinghe, Liyanage, Gunaratne, Thisara, Lakshan, Pathum Kumara, Theekshana, Manoj and Rashmika. 

“If you take man to man our experience is far better than Tamil Union, but it all depends on how you perform on the day. We respect any side that has come to the final and we don’t think about the names but perform to our capabilities,” said Wijesuriya.

“We have the confidence and to tell you frankly we are keen to win the next trophy also after winning the T20. This is the best chance to do it. Everybody knows their roles; everybody has realised the role they have to play, and they are more like professionals. That is the beauty of the side. This team is like a mercantile company it gives the side it represents everything. I always say the Coach and the Captain must have the same heart. As long as it is there, there’s nothing to worry when they are in the middle.”      

The runner-up team will receive Rs. 750,000. The individual awards are Rs. 250,000 for Player of the Tournament, Rs. 150,000 each for Best Batsman and Best Bowler and Rs. 100,000 for Man of the Finals.