A week after the First-Class club tournament wrapped up, Sri Lanka’s leading cricketers have padded up for the National Super League (NSL)—the inter-provincial showdown that has become the ultimate litmus test for national selection. Over the last few years, the NSL has been the selector’s go-to tournament, where solid performances serve as golden tickets to the big stage.
This year, the competition has been as fierce as ever. Players who impressed in the club tournament have earned their places in the five-team battle, and heading into the fourth and final day of the first round, both games are poised for results—setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
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The inter-club tournament itself had plenty of eyeballs on it this season, especially with stakeholders biting the bullet and agreeing to trim four teams from the structure to make First-Class cricket more competitive. It was a bitter pill to swallow, especially for SSC, the country’s most prestigious club, which found itself relegated after finishing eighth in its group. Also sent packing were Ragama Cricket Club, Negombo Cricket Club, and Kandy Customs.
These teams will now have to bide their time and claw their way back into the top tier, but they’ll need to wait at least two years for another shot at promotion. With Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) expected to trim two more teams next year, reducing the competition to just 12 sides, the governing body deserves credit for finally addressing the long-standing issue of a bloated and diluted club structure – where, at one point, a staggering 26 teams were in the mix.
This season’s inter-club final lived up to its billing, delivering all the twists and turns worthy of a championship decider. While there was no outright result, Bloomfield didn’t need one – they played smart cricket, knowing that a first-innings lead would be enough to clinch their first title in 15 years. By posting a mammoth 500-plus total, they effectively batted NCC out of the contest, leaving them with no way back.
Heading into the final, NCC were the clear favourites. Armed with six Sri Lanka caps and a formidable pace attack, they looked primed for glory. But cricket has a funny way of turning the script on its head, and Ron Chandraguptha ensured that Bloomfield had the last laugh. Under the blazing sun, he produced a marathon knock, batting for two full days – occupying the crease for six grueling sessions. It was an innings built on patience, discipline, and supreme fitness, culminating in his maiden double hundred—a knock that not only won Bloomfield the title but also turned the selectors’ heads.
With Dimuth Karunaratne stepping away, a prized opening slot has opened up in the senior team, and NCC’s Lahiru Udara was the frontrunner to fill those big shoes. The leading run-scorer of the season, Udara capped off a prolific campaign with a century in the final. Having been in and around the Sri Lankan squad for the last couple of years, he seemed to be a shoo-in for the vacant spot.
However, cricket is a game of fine margins, and Chandraguptha’s stellar final has turned what seemed like a one-horse race into a thrilling two-man contest. The selectors now have a dilemma on their hands, and with the NSL underway, it’s a straight shootout between the two. Whoever stacks up the runs in this tournament will likely get the nod.
Another name pushing for selection is Pasindu Sooriyabandara. The stylish right-hander has been churning out runs consistently over the last few seasons, and this year, he was the backbone of Moors’ strong campaign. His 620 runs in just 10 innings came at a jaw-dropping average of 88 – numbers that demand attention.
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The timing couldn’t be better for him. The national team has been going through a lean patch, suffering four straight defeats – two against South Africa and two against Australia. A string of batting collapses has exposed some major cracks, and with changes on the cards, a few heads might roll. If the selectors are serious about injecting fresh energy into the Test side, Sooriyabandara should be firmly in the conversation.
With the NSL in full swing, the next few weeks could be career-defining for these hopefuls. The message is clear – put your head down, pile on the runs, and force the selectors’ hand. Because in cricket, as in life, opportunities are there for the taking – but only for those who seize the moment.
—the inter-provincial showdown that has become the ultimate litmus test for national selection. Over the last few years, the NSL has been the selector’s go-to tournament, where solid performances serve as golden tickets to the big stage.){kind=link}