Can Chilaw Marians overpower strong CCC to achieve the rare double?

SLC Invitation T20 Tournament

By
Chathura Kumarasinghe
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303

Chilaw Marians CC and Colombo Cricket Club will lock horns on Tuesday (21) in the final of the SLC Invitation T20 Tournament at the SSC with the game being telecasted live on ThePapare.com from 9.30 a.m. onwards. 

Live – SLC Invitational T20 Tournament 2019/2020 – Final

The tournament has been closely contested thus far with many last-over thrillers and even one game ending as a tie. The only undefeated teams in the group stages; Ragama CC and NCC had to end their campaign in the semifinals at the hands of the eventual finalists; Chilaw MCC and CCC.

Photos: Chilaw Marians CC Team Preview 2019/20

Both teams lost one game each in the group stage but managed to pull through to the knockout stages with ease and have dominated since. Chilaw Marians defeated the strong SSC and Ragama CC outfits in the quarter-final and semifinal respectively while CCC have managed to beat Badureliya SC and NCC in the knockouts.

 

Road to Final – Chilaw Marians CC

 Group Stage Matches

  • Kurunegala YCC – Won by 127 Runs
  • Air Force SC – Won by 34 Runs
  • Negombo CC – Won by 38 Runs
  • Kalutara TC – Won by 35 Runs
  • Army SC – Lost by 31 Runs

 

Quarter Final

  • SSC – Won by 14 Runs

Semi Final

  • Ragama CC – Won by 33 Runs
 Road to Final – CCC 

Group Stage Matches

  • Kandy Customs CC – Won by 140 Runs
  • Nugegoda Sports Welfare Club – Won by 11 Runs
  • SL Ports Authority – Won by 30 Runs
  • BRC – Won by 6 Wickets
  • Lankan CC – Won by 1 Wicket
  • Ragama CC – Lost by 31 Runs

 Quarter Final

  • Badureliya SC – Won by 7 Wickets

Semi Final

  • NCC – Won by 10 Runs

Players to watch out for

Chliaw Marians opener Lasith Croospulle has been in exceptional touch for his team as he racked up two half-centuries in the quarter final and final, while his skipper Shehan Jayasuriya continued his fine form from the limited-overs tournament, placing themselves among the top 2 highest runs getters of this tournament.  Having failed to make a big score in the past few games, opener Kamindu Mendis also due for runs.

CCC skipper Ashan Priyanjan is also among runs and wickets and has been one of the linchpins in the team’s success. Left-arm skipper Malinda Pushpakumara tops the wicket-takers’ column of the tournament.

Most runs in the tournament

  • Shehan Jayasuriya (for Chilaw MCC) – 305 runs @ 158.03 SR
  • Ashan Priyanjan (for CCC) –188 runs @ 129.65 SR

Most wickets in the tournament

  • Asitha Fernando (for Chilaw MCC) – 13 Wickets @ 5.75 ECO
  • Malinda Pushpakumara (for CCC) – 16 Wickets @ 5.90 ECO

CCC – Probable XI:
Malindu Maduranga, Ron Chandraguptha, Minod Bhanuka, Ashan Priyanjan (C), Shalika Karunanayaka, Wanindu de Silva, Lasith Abeyratne, Manelkar de Silva, Malinda Pushpakumara, Lahiru Gamage, Nuwan Thushara

Chilaw Marians – Probable XI:
Lasith Croospulle, Kamindu Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya (C), Thikshila de Silva, Pulina Tharanga, Rumesh Buddika, Nimesh Vimukthi, Chathuranga Kumara, Irosh Fernando, Sanoj Darshika, Asitha Fernando

In the Club T20 tournament last year, Moors SC defeated NCC by 1 wicket in the final.

Chilaw Marians CC emerged as the champions of the SLC invitation L/O tournament this season (2019/2020) and they will want to achieve the rare double by winning both 50-over and T20 tournaments in a single season.

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