An under 23 division one tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will get underway this weekend with 6 games to be played around Colombo and its suburbs starting on 6th of June.
Fourteen clubs have been divided into 2 groups and the two-month long competition will see the finals played in August. Top two teams from each group will book their place in the final. The composition of each team will be two under 19 players, two under 20 players, and the rest of the players need to be below the age of 23 years. This has been made mandatory for all the clubs. Matches will be played over three days and this tournament is set to highlight the upcoming stars from the junior level.
Group ‘A’
Moors SC
Colombo Cricket Club
Colts CC
Moratuwa SC
NCC
Army SC
SLPA SC
Group ‘B’
Tamil Union C & AC
Bloomfield C & AC
Ragama CC
Negombo CC
Air Force SC
Navy SC
Sinhalese SC
Newest feature of this year’s tournament will be the 4 players from Australia who will take the field. Ashes debut hero – Ashton Agar will play for Tamil Union in the forthcoming competition while 2012 Australian under 19 Captain William Bosisto will represent Nondescript Cricket Club. Australian T20 capped leg spinning all-rounder James Muirhead will don the Moors Sports Club jersey while impressive batsman Matthew Short is scheduled to strengthen the Colombo Cricket Club lineup.
Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club have won the last three under 23 competitions and they will be the firm favorites to retain the title. From last year’s competition, Leo Cricket Club has been demoted to the division 2 while Negambo Cricket Club has earned a promotion to play in the top division. Right arm leg spinning all-rounder Pulina Tharanga will lead the reigning champions and they will pose a big challenge to advance themselves from the group ‘B’.
Ragama Cricket Club led by top order batsmen Dhananjaya De Silva possesses a formidable unit and they can be a lethal team on their day. Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club will be skippered by Charitha Kumarasinghe and the star-studded Sinhalese Sports Club is the other top team to threaten Tamil Union’s stronghold in group ‘B’.
Colts Cricket Club will be captained by dashing left hander Bhanuka Rajapakshe and they occupy a bunch of skillful and promising players. Young gun Sandun Weerakkody will take charge of the strong Nondescript Cricket Club squad and the dark horses, Moors Sports Club will be led by opening batsman Shehan Jayasooriya. Colombo Cricket Club will be other team to watch out as Maduka Liyanapathirana will lead one of the top contenders to the under 23 crown from group ‘A’.
This tournament will be the ideal platform for the talented school leavers and the rising stars to showcase their cricketing abilities in what promises to be an exciting competition.
The matches scheduled to be played on the first weekend;
Moors SC vs Army SC at Moors grounds.
Nondescript CC vs Colombo CC at NCC grounds.
Navy SC vs Tamil Union C & AC at Welisara Navy grounds.
Air Force SC vs Bloomfield C & AC at FTZ grounds, Katunayake.
Negombo CC vs Ragama CC at Negombo Kadirana grounds.
Moratuwa SC vs Colts CC (venue to be confirmed).
