CCC meets Tamil Union at Major Clubs final today
The unbeaten CCC team led by Ashan Priyanjan will meet Tamil Union led by Sadeera Samarawickrama in the Major Clubs three-day cricket tournament final is scheduled to be held from today (17) to Sunday (20) at the SSC grounds.
After the league round, CCC and Tamil Union finished on top of their respective groups to qualify for this final which will be a four-day game and a keen tussle is expected.
This is the third consecutive time CCC coached by Tharanga Dhammika has qualified to play in the final. It was a rare achievement by the CCC to be qualified to play the final for the third consecutive time and become the only club to do so. The last two times CCC won back-to-back titles at this tournament which was conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Initially, there were 26 clubs to participate but SLC wanted to demote four clubs based on points.
Both Dhananjaya de Silva the all-rounder and Promod Madushan the paceman included for the Tamil Union but both have been released for National duty to focus on the Afghanistan ODI series. However, skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama, young opener Navod Paranavithana, Santhush Gunathileka, Ravindra Fernando, Kamesh Nirmal (younger brother of Dinesh Chandimal), Ron Chandragupta and Raveen de Silva are key batters of the Tamils Union side and leg spinner Dilum Sudeera the bowler who has taken more wickets this season with Jeffrey Vandersay who was in the World T20 squad are back on the side and expected to strengthen the side. Shiran Fernando, Isuru Udana and Kavindu Pathiratne are experienced pacemen of the side, and Tamil Union coach Sachith Pathirana, the former National all-rounder has new plans with his side to pose a good challenge against CCC.
Meanwhile, CCC led by Ashan Priyanjan the experienced National all rounder has the services of wicketkeeper Minod Bhanuka, Kamindu Mendis, Lasith Abeyratna, Nimesha Gunasinghe, Pawan Ratnayake, Sonal Dinusha, and young Pawan Pathiraja are included in their batting line up. Two experienced leg spinners Lakshan Sandakan and Malinda Pushpakumara are their key bowlers while Wanindu Hasaranga and Asitha Fernando have missed this final due to National duty.
The teams
CCC from: Ashan Priyanjan (Capt), Minod Bhanuka, Nimesha Gunasinghe,Pawan Ratnayake, Sonal Dinusha,Kamindu Mendis, Lasith Abeyratna, Malinda Pushpakumara, Lakshan Sandakan, Chamindu Wijesinghe, Yasaruwan Herath, Pawantha Wijesinghe,Pawan Pathiraja, Malinga Amarasinghe, Devindu Kekirideniya, Nuwan Thushara, Vishwa Fernando, Duvindu Ranathunga, Vinushka Silva, Hasindu Wijewardena, Anjala Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Asitha Fernando, Tharanga Dhammika (coach)
Tamil Union from: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Navod Paranavithana, Dilum Sudeera, Ravindu Fernando, Raveen de Silva, Shiran Fernando, Santhush Gunathileka, Kavindu Pathiratne, Sithara Hapuhinna, Dulaj Chamuditha, Jeffrey Vandasay, Krishna Shriram, Kamesh Nirmal, Sahan Hansala, Ron Chandragupta, Supun Kavinda, Thiwanka Wijekoon, Tharindu Harshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Promod Madushan, Sachith Pathirana (coach)