Mighty Sinhalese Sports Club enter the 2016/17 SLC Premier three day cricket tournament as favorites to challenge Tamil Union for their crown.
Bit of History
Founded in the year 1899, SSC have always had stellar line-ups, producing two of Sri Lanka’s greatest skippers Arjuna Ranatunga and Mahela Jayawardena.
By far the most successful club in the domestic arena in Sri Lanka, SSC has tasted success in every format of the game and have managed to win the Premier three day tournament thrice while winning the limited over tournament as recently as 2013/14. They finished as runners up in both the limited overs tournament and the T20 tournament in the 2014/15 season.
Key Players
The current Sri Lankan Test openers, Dimuth Karunarathne and Kaushal Silva will be missing the tournament due to national duty, a huge loss to the SSC.
Attacking opening batsman Dhanushka Gunathilaka will be a man to watch out for in the SSC line-up this season. The ODI and T20 opener for Sri Lanka has more than 2000 runs to his name in 41 matches. He will also look up to his National exploits to make an impression this season.
Photo Album: Sinhalese Sports Club | Full Squad 2016/17
Jeffrey Vandersay is another promising talent making his way into the domestic cricket arena. With 149 first class scalps to his name, the leg spinner will be aiming to impress the selectors and make his way back into the national set-up.
Another spinner in the SSC ranks, Sachithra Senanayake will play an integral part in the SSC bowling. He plays primarily as a bowler but Senanayake is also useful with the bat and has more than 1500 runs and 401 wickets to his name.
New boys
Former youth player and Anandian captain, Sammu Ashan is a new face to watch out for this season. He was a regular member of the national U19 team and will be hoping to make a name for himself in the domestic arena. He made an absolute belter of a start to his first class career, making 95 in his very first game.
Another promising youngster in the SSC ranks, Sammu’s Sri Lanka U19 teammate Charith Asalanka will also be aiming to impress this season at SSC. The left handed batsman has 430 runs from 8 first class games and will be aiming to better his record and make a name for himself and eventually move towards a national call-up.
Coaching staff
Gayan Wijekoon will be continuing as head coach at SSC from last season as Vimukthi Deshappriya will be the fielding coach.
