The Premier First-Class tournament organized by Sri Lanka Cricket for the 2019/2020 season was concluded successfully crowning Colombo Cricket Club as the champions. It was a remarkable season which witnessed many outstanding accomplishments by both batsmen and bowlers.
Most Runs of the season
NCC opener Lahiru Udara managed to secure the top run-scorer’s title as he was in brilliant touch throughout the season. His amazing form paved the way for a call-up to the Sri Lanka preliminary Test squad too. Udara and former Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal were the only players to surpass the 1000-run milestone this season.
- Lahiru Udara (NCC) – 1039 runs
- Dinesh Chandimal (Army SC) – 1027 runs
- Bhanuka Rajapaksa (BRC) – 835 runs
- Lasith Abeyratne (CCC) – 788 runs
- Lahiru Thirimanne (Ragama CC) – 726 runs
Highest Scores – 2019/21
Six 200+ scores were recorded this season including, 2 triple centuries. Chandimal, who was in fine form, reminded the national selectors of his abilities with a marathon knock of 354 not out to break the record for the highest First-Class score in Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket history which was held by Kithruwan Vithanage.
- Dinesh Chandimal (Army SC) – 354*
- Ramesh Mendis (Moors) – 300*
- Lahiru Udara (NCC) – 290*
- Lahiru Milantha (Badureliya CC) – 252
- Suminda Lakshan (Air Force SC) – 221
- Kusal Mendis (CCC) – 200*
Highest FC score in Sri Lankan domestic cricket
- Dinesh Chandimal – 354*
- Kithruwan Vithanage – 351
- Minod Bhanuka – 342
- Thilina Kandamby – 340*
- Kusal Perera – 336
Most 6s in a Season
The 3rd highest scorer of the tournament, BRC skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa also managed to rewrite history by becoming the first player in SLC Major League tournament history to hit 50 sixes in a single season. Rajapaksa maintained a strike rate of 120.3 in the 18 innings he played, which is the highest for any batsman this season.
Youngest Sri Lankan to score an FC ton
One of the most promising products from Mahanama College, Pavan Rathnayake, who is still a school-boy, notched up a dazzling century for CCC unseating Sudath Pasqual to become the youngest Sri Lankan to register a First-Class century.
- 17Y 188d – Pavan Rathnayake (2019/20)
- 17Y 265d – Sudath Pasqual (1979)
- 17Y 285d – Charith Asalanka (2014/15)
- 17Y 322d – Roshan Jurangpathy (1984/85)
- 18Y 63d – Upul Tharanaga (2002/03)
Century on Debut
20-year-old Dinuka Dilshan from Ambalangoda Dharmashoka College made a striking entry to First Class cricket by scoring a century in his debut game. He was the only player to do so this season.
Most FC runs in Sri Lanka
One of the legendary figures in Sri Lankan first class cricket, former Test opener Tharanga Paranavitana hung up his boots at the end of the season. He was short of just 60 runs to that elusive 15,000 First Class runs milestone (14940 runs at 45.82) but ended his career as the highest run accumulator in First Class cricket in Sri Lanka.
- Tharanga Paranavitana – 12522 runs
- Chamara Silva – 11324 runs
- Kaushal Silva – 10985 runs
- Dimuth Karunaratne – 8899 runs
- Mahela Jayewardene – 8869 runs
Most Wickets of the season
On the bowling front, 5 players were able to go past the 50 wicket-barrier this season. Unsurprisingly, all of them were left arm orthodox spinners. Duvindu Tillakaratne had a stellar season as he placed himself at the top of the wickets’ column, earning a call-up to the Preliminary Test squad for the upcoming Bangladesh tour.
Tier A – Most Wickets
- Duvindu Tillakaratne (BRC) – 61 wickets
- Malinda Pushpakumara (CCC) – 50 wickets
- Upul Indrasiri (Negombo CC) – 50 wickets
Tier B – Most Wickets
- Gayan Sirisoma (Bloomfield CAC) – 64 wickets
- Chanaka Komasaru (Ports Authority CC) – 52 wickets
Best Bowling figures
Sri Lanka Test cap Lasith Embuldeniya secured the best figures in an innings as he wrecked Saracens with 9 wickets while Duvindu Tillakaratne registered the best figures in a match when he almost spun BRC to victory against NCC.
- Lasith Embuldeniya (NCC) – 9/86 vs Saracens SC
- Duvindu Tillakaratne (BRC) – 13/118 vs NCC (Match Bag)
Hat-tricks (2019/20)
There were 4 hat-tricks recorded in the 2019/20 Major League Tournament too. Kasun Rajitha and Akash Senaratne from Tier A and Hasantha Fernando and Suminda Lakshan from Tier B shared the honours.
- Kasun Rajitha (Saracens SC) vs CCC
- Akash Senaratne (SSC) vs Moors
- Hasantha Fernando (Sebastianites SC) vs Air Force SC
- Suminda Lakshan (Air Force SC) vs Nugegoda SWC
Best figures in Debut FC innings
Out of the freshers to play in 2019/20 Major Club League, Moors SC seamer Dhanushka Ranasinghe made history by producing the best figures by a Sri Lankan bowler in a First-Class debut innings. He ousted the previous record of 8 for 137 by Thusith de Soysa.
- Dhanushka Ranasinghe (Moors SC) – 8/76 (2019/20)
- Thusith de Soysa ((Kurunagala YCC) – 8/137 (2017/18)’
Best All-round performance of the season
When all-round abilities are considered, the best all-round performance was displayed by the Test cap Dhananjaya de Silva who had a dream outing against Badureliya Sports Club, where he finished with a century and a 9-wicket match bag. (100 & 31*| 6/74 & 3/10 vs Badureliya SC)
