National Super League Final Dambulla aiming for Super League double

By M. Shamil Amit 

Dambulla, the National Super League four-day tournament champions, will seek to make it a double by clinching the limited over title when they meet reigning champions Jaffna in the final scheduled to be played under floodlights at the R. Premadasa Stadium today. 

Led by Minod Bhanuka, Dambulla has had a good run since the tournament got underway last month as they chalked up seven wins from the eight matches that they played.
On the other hand Jaffna led by Janith Liyanage has had fluctuated fortunes and ended the league matches by securing four wins and suffering two defeats, both to their opponents whom they are meeting today with one match being abandoned.

Dambulla have a strong batting side as they possess two centurions in skipper Bhanuka and Pavan Ratnayake who has been consistent with the bat right throughout the tournament. 
Ratnayake is their top scorer and apart from the pair they have batsmen in the likes of Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Sonal Dinusha, Lasith Abeyratne and Lahiru Samarakoon who all will be expected to make their contributions to bolster the scoreboard.

Dambulla’s bowling will revolve around Samarakoon who is their top wicket taker, Ashan Priyanjan and Lakshan Sandakan, with support expected from the pacies Nuwan Thushara and Asitha Fernando.

Jaffna will depend on skipper Liyanage along with Ravindu Fernando the only centurion of the side, Navod Paranavithana, Ron Chandragupta and Kasun Abeyratne while Nishan Madushka, who has so far failed, will be able to make his contribution when it matters most.

The bowling will be in the hands of Dilum Sudeera, Lahiru Madusanka and Shiran Fernando along with Binura Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay who will be expected to combine in preventing the strong batting of their opponents.

However, Dambulla will come into the game with their heads held high and confidence and it’s left to be seen whether they would be able to achieve the double or Jaffna would be third time lucky in their quest if retaining the title for yet another year.

The Teams:

Dambulla - Minod Bhanuka (Capt), Pavan Ratnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Lasith Abeyratne, Sonal Dinusha, Dushan Hemantha, Ashan Priyanjan, Lahiru Samarakoon, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Chamindu Wijekoon, Ranitha Liyanaarachchi, Abishek Liyanaarachchi, Duvindu Tillekeratne

Jaffna - Janith Liyanage (Capt), Nishan Madushka, Navod Paranavithana, Kasun Abeyratne, Ron Chandragupta, Lahiru Madusanka, Ravindu Fernando, Dilum Sudeera, Binura Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Avishka Tharindu, Kamesh Nirmal