The much-hyped SLC Under 23 division one cricket tournament 2015/16 will commence on August 7th with the next generation of players vying for top honours in a two-month long competition.
The division 1 tournament consists of 14 teams in 2 groups and 43 three-day matches. The division 2 tournament will see 22 teams in 3 groups playing 73 two-day matches.
Last season’s (2014/15) champions, Sinhalese Sports Club has been drawn in the group ‘A’ alongside Moors Sports Club, Ragama Cricket Club, Colombo Cricket Club, Colts Cricket Club, Moratuwa Sports Club and Saracens Sports Club.
Last year’s runner-up, Nondescript Cricket Club is once again tipped as pre-tournament favourites as they are in a relatively easy group ‘B’ together with Navy Sports Club, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club, Air Force Sports Club, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, Negombo Cricket Club and Panadura Sports Club.
This tournament is a golden stepping stone to all the upcoming cricketers who are willing to play professional cricket in Sri Lanka. Almost all of the national cricketers have participated in this tournament in the past.
Two players namely Shehan Jayasuriya (795 runs) and Tharindu Kaushal (47 wickets) who recently represented Sri Lanka were the top run-scorer and top wickets-taker respectively in the 2014/15 tournament.
Kaushal will act as the captain of the NCC outfit but due to his absence because of potential national duty, hard-hitting left-hander Sandun Weerakkody will take up the captaincy responsibilities while their neighbours, SSC have retained leg-spinning all-rounder Sanka Ramesh as their captain who led them to championship glory last year.
Moors SC and Ragama CC will be led by former St. Sebastian’s College fast-bowling all-rounders, Sanitha De Mel and Charith Fernando respectively while the strong Tamil Union outfit will be skippered by elegant batsman from Richmond College, Pabasara Waduge.
Saracens SC led by former Mahanama College captain Duleeka Thissakuttige won the division two tournament last year and gained their promotion to the top tier alongside runner-up Panadura SC. Sri Lanka Army SC and Bloomfield C and AC were demoted to the division two tournament this season after finishing in the bottom of the points table in their respective groups.
CCC team will be spearheaded by wicket-keeper batsman Lasith Abeyrathne while the star-studded Colts lineup will be headed by batsman Angelo Jayasinghe or all-rounder Priyamal Perera.
Incidentally most of the quality players of top clubs will have national duty during the tournament period as the Afghanistan A team and South Africa Emerging team are here in the island.
Dark horses of the tournament, Negombo CC will be captained by opener Shihan Dilasri while Navy SC and SL Ports Authority CC will be led by fast-bowler Dinushka Marlon and Ishan Rangana respectively.
After the first-round is completed, top teams from each groups will advance to play the final which is scheduled on 2nd, 3rd and 4th of October.
First Week’s Matches – Division 1
SSC vs Moratuwa at SSC grounds (August 7,8,9)
CCC vs Ragama at CCC grounds (August 7,8,9)
SL Ports vs SL Air Force at FTZ grounds in Katunayake (August 7,8,9)
NCC vs Negombo at NCC grounds (August 9,10,11)
Colts vs Moors at Colts grounds(August 9,10,11)
Navy vs Tamil Union at R.Premadasa stadium (August 9,10,11)
