Leo and Army clash in Anuradhapura tomorrow
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
Leo Cricket Club and Army Sports Club enter the final battle for the title of the Major Clubs Twenty20 cricket tournament organised by Sri Lanka Cricket tomorrow (26) at the Anuradhapura District Cricket Stadium (Samadhi Cricket Stadium).
Leo Cricket Club, led by Supun Dilshan, and Army Sports Club, led by Shehan Soysa, qualified for the grand final by defeating Sebastianites Cricket Club and Negombo Cricket Club respectively.
What is special here is that Army Sports Club also won the title of this year's Major Clubs one-day tournament. Accordingly, they have the chance of adding the Twenty20 title to their one-day crown. In the preliminary round, the Leo team, which played against Negombo, United Southern, Kurunegala, Moratuwa and Chilaw Marians sports clubs, recorded three wins.
The Leo team, which beat Navy Sports Club by 98 runs in the quarter-final, came through to the grand final by defeating Sebastianites Sports Club by 59 runs in the semi-final.
The biggest hope of the Leo team's batting is 23-year-old left-handed batter Nethma Karunaratne. Having taken part in five matches, he has gathered 165 runs with two half-centuries. Ashan Fernando has scored 138 runs with two half-centuries in seven matches, Romesh Suranga 131 runs with a half-century and Neluka Heshan 113 runs, strengthening the Leo team's batting.
In the bowling department, left-arm spinner Sudara Dakshina has produced outstanding performances, claiming 12 wickets in seven matches. Romesh Suranga and captain Supun Dilshan have taken nine wickets each, while Prasad Asanka has claimed seven wickets.
Commenting on tomorrow's match, Leo captain Supun Dilshan said that after taking part in several good practice sessions his team is very well prepared for the grand final. He also said that, as the opposing Army team were champions of the one-day tournament as well, he and his team expect a huge challenge from them in tomorrow's match.
Army Sports Club played against Kandy Customs, Sebastianites, Navy, Galle and Ragama sports clubs in the preliminary round, recording four wins there.
The Army team, which beat Moratuwa Sports Club by 14 runs in the quarter-final, qualified for the grand final by defeating Negombo Sports Club by 27 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in the semi-final.
The leading batter of the Army team is 26-year-old right-handed batter Manushka Samith. Having compiled 187 runs with two half-centuries in six matches, he is currently second on the tournament's list of leading run-scorers.
The experience of Thisara Perera and Asela Gunaratne, who represented the Sri Lanka national team, joining the Army team's batting line-up is another special feature.
In addition to them, Ashan Sudarshana has scored 164 runs with a half-century in six matches, while Janaka Sampath has made 128 runs with a half-century.
In the bowling department, off-spinner Janaka Sampath has taken 10 wickets in six matches, while Lilan Rangana has claimed nine wickets and Pathum Malitha eight.
Army Sports Club enter the final battle with the aim of adding the Twenty20 title to the one-day title they have already won, while Leo Cricket Club, on the strength of the performances they have shown throughout the tournament, are also ready to mount a strong challenge for the title.
Commenting on this, Army captain Shehan Soysa said that with their success in winning the one-day tournament title his team's mental fitness is at a very high level, and therefore they hope to go into tomorrow's match with a positive attitude. He also said that, as the opposing Leo team have produced excellent performances throughout the entire tournament, they will not underestimate them in tomorrow's match.
Accordingly, the grand final at the Anuradhapura Samadhi Cricket Stadium, which will decide who claims the Major Clubs Twenty20 cricket title, will be a decisive match for both teams.
Leo team – Supun Dilshan (captain), Prasad Asanka, Ashan Fernando, Nethma Karunaratne, Neluka Heshan, Romesh Suranga, Vishwa Rajapaksa, Poorna Kalhara, Salindu Pathirana, Sudara Dakshina, Gayana Kahawiti, Oshada Gimhan, Githmin Kolambage, Samith Dilshan, Avintha de Alwis and Gayan de Silva.
Army team – Shehan Soysa (captain), Ashan Sudarshana, Janaka Sampath, Manushka Samith, Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera, Ravindu Wijewardana, Krishen Aponsu, Lilan Rangana, Pathum Malitha, Sarath Madushka, Malka Madushanka, Isuru Dhananjaya and Sukitha Devthilina.
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting