Defending champs Dambulla aim to retain Super League title
View(s):By M. Shamil Amit
The climax of the National Super League Limited-Over Cricket Tournament is set to unfold tonight under floodlights at the R. Premadasa International Stadium, as defending champions Dambulla lock horns with Kandy.
The tournament witnessed a fierce battle among five teams — Dambulla, Kandy, Jaffna, Colombo, and Galle. Dambulla, the reigning champions, emerged as frontrunners, clinching victory in three out of four matches. Meanwhile, Kandy, Jaffna, and Galle secured two wins each, ultimately propelling Kandy into the final based on a superior run rate.
Minod Bhanuka will lead Dambulla, continuing his captaincy from last year’s triumphant campaign. Dambulla’s consistent performance throughout the tournament has been bolstered by key players like Pawan Ratnayake, skipper Minod Bhanuka, Sonal Dinusha, and Dushan Hemantha. Their bowling attack, led by Vishwa Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Dushan Hemantha, and Lakshan Sandakan, poses a formidable challenge to their opponents.
Kandy: Ahan Wickramasinghe (Capt), Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Chamod Sandarua, Chamika Gunasekera, Chamika Karunaratne, Ashian Daniel, Wanuja Sahan, Sahan Arachchige, Lahiru Kumara, Sanoj Dharshika, Lakshan Sandakan, Mithun Jayawickrama, Pulina Tharanga, Ravindu Ratnayake, Thikshila de Silva
Kandy, led by Ahan Wickramasinghe in the absence of Dhananjaya de Silva and Niroshan Dickwella, who are representing Sri Lanka in Bangladesh, boasts a strong batting lineup featuring Sahan Arachchige, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Chamod Sandaru, and Sanoj Dharshika. Their bowling spearhead includes Lahiru Kumara, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, alongside Chamika Gunasekera, Ashian Daniel, Chamika Karunaratne, and Wanuja Sahan.
As the final showdown looms, Dambulla aims to secure back-to-back titles, while Kandy will surely seek to clinch their maiden championship victory. Adding to the intrigue, this encounter marks the second meeting between the two sides in the tournament. Dambulla emerged victorious in their previous encounter, aiming to replicate their success, while Kandy seeks redemption.
Dambulla: Minod Bhanuka (Capt), Lasith Croospulle, Pawan Ratnayake, Ranesh Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Chamindu Wijesinghe, Dushan Hemantha, Ranitha Liyanaarchchi, Vishwa Fernando, Murvin Abinash, Mohamed Shiraz