Being in the bracket of the few teams which performed outstandingly in the premier limited overs tournament, Army CC is revamped with a novel game plan to recapitulate their performance in the longer version of the game.
Having regained the service of the two national cap holders back to the outfit they will be threatening to rest of the contenders of the tournament.
Key Players
Leading the side up-front skipper Asela Gunaratene has played 73 innings in 44 first class matches. He will be playing the crucial role of an all-rounder where he will balance the side as one of the main part time bowlers and a batter. Scoring 2454 runs with a highest score of 200 not out, he will be strengthening the middle order and would bat through-out till the end of the innings. Bagging 26 wickets with a bowling average of just below 30 he will play the role of a part time bowler and chip in to shift the momentum of the opposition innings.
Soldier’s important canon Ajantha Mendis will be leading the bowling attack of the outfit with his cryptic craft of spin bowling. Having played 99 innings in 59 first class matches he not only holds experience on the local charter but also internationally. Having played 83 ODI`s he has bagged 148 wickets. With a first class bowling average of 22.67 and a total count of 247 wickets he will be the ideal person to break partnership which is in fine tune.
While Ajantha Mendis pressurizes the opposition from one end his ally Sekkuge Prasanna will tighten the screws at the other end. Having played 142 innings in 79 first class matches his leg-break bowling will be a menace for the batsmen to flow into their strokes. Emerging from Rewatha College, Balapitiya this budding talent of cricket has bagged 413 first class wickets with a bowling average of just over thirty. With the international experience of both Prasanna and Mendis, in the department the contenders would worry to chase down a target set by them.
Wicket-keeper and batsman Dilan Soyza will lead up the batting side upfront. Playing as the opening batsman for one end, he will patiently build the foundation for the rest of the batsmen to follow. Having played 108 innings in 70 matches he has scored 2313 first class runs. With a batting average of 24.97 and a highest score of 118 his strokes will be a treat to watch.
Coaching contingent
Following the experience of 15 years in mentoring cricketing brands in the local franchise Sanjaya Dissanayake will be the man-in-charge of the soldier’s for the fifth consecutive year. Commencing his coaching career at school level, he led the young Isispathana side to an astounding position during his era. Stepping ahead from the school platform Dissanayake started coaching the domestic clubs of Sri-Lanka and has rendered an immeasurable service to the sport. Having been with the outfit for the last five years he will know the pros and cons of each player hence he will be able to get the best out of them this season.
Skipper Guneratene sharing his thoughts with ThePapare.com “It was very disappointing how rain washed away many games in the limited overs tournament. But we have had our practice sessions in a better way this time around with the red ball so we hope up to keep up the performance and end this season on a higher position“.
Sanjaya Dissanayake expressing his views “We actually could not play two important games in the premier limited overs tournament because of the rain but for the longer version of the game we have come up with a different strategy and new plan so I hope we could enter the super eights and finish it on higher note”.
Full Squad with Disciplines
Dilan Soysa – Right Hand Bat – Wicket Keeper
Adeesha Thilanchana – Left Hand Bat – Right Arm Medium Fast
Manjula De Soysa – Right Hand Bat – Right Hand Off-break
Lakshitha Madushan – Right Hand Bat – Leg Break
Asela Guneratene – Right Hand Bat – Right Arm Medium Fast
Sanjika Ridma – Left Hand Bat – Slow Left Arm Orthodox
Shalika Karunnayake – Right Hand Bat – Right Arm Medium Fast
Ajantha Mendis – Right Hand Bat – Right Arm-Off Break
Seekuge Prasanna – Right Hand Bat – Right Arm Leg Break
Janith Silva – Right Hand Bat – Right Arm Medium Fast
Ravindra Palleguruge – Right Hand Bat – Slow Left Arm Orthodox
Nuwan Liyanapathiarana – Right Hand Bat – Right Arm Medium Fast
Coach – Sanjaya Dissanayake
Captain – Asela Guneratene
