SLC Under 15 Youth League Final

by Reemus Fernando

Colombo South Under 15s are the favourites as they take on Colombo North Under 15 in the final of the Sri Lanka Cricket conducted Under 15 Youth League tournament at the MCA ground today.

Colombo South coached by Omesh Wijesiriwardana are going to the final with four victories and an unbeaten tag against their name.

Colombo South batting is fortified by four Royalists. Royal College, Colombo batsmen Rehan Peiris, Hirun Matheesha and Thevindu Wewalwala and Royal College, Panadura batsman Sathsara Nilanjith were the leading batsmen for them in this tournament. Peiris and Matheesha have both scored over 100 runs in the four matches they played. While Peiris scored a century to provide a robust start to the tournament, Matheesha came up with a decisive half century. While Nilanjith made a vial contribution with 45 runs in one match, Wewalwala helped them with a dogged knock of 22 runs in a difficult chase.

They have two strike bowlers in Himaru Deshan and Rusandu Silva. The left-arm spinners have more than twenty wickets between them in the four matches. And both have also claimed five wicket hauls. The Holy Cross College, Kalutara spinner Deshan is the tournament’s highest wicket taker with 14 wickets against his name. They also have a safe pair of gloves behind the wickets in St. Peter’s College player Jason Fernando.

For Colombo North, skipper Lithum Senuja of Wesley, Mahanama College, Colombo batsman Dulneth Algawatta and Christ King College, Ja Ela player Sahan Rashmika excelled with the bat during the four-match league. Algawatta scored an unbeaten 56 to lead their batting charts.

Colombo North too have two left-arm spinners to count on but their main strike bowler was paceman Lahiru Lakmal who has nine wickets from the tournament. The left arm spinners are Dinuja Samararatne and Dasith Perera.

Colombo North are coached by Duminda Perera.

Colombo South Under 15s with their officials.

Teams

Colombo South U15s (from): Thevindu Wewalwala, Dunitha Anusara, Rehan Peiris, Hirun Matheesha, Rusandu Silva, Chanul Athale, Lasiru Sandakan, Matheesha Aponso, Himaru Deshan, Janul Damhiru, Jason Fernando, Sathsara Nilanjith, Yasaru Praveen.

Officials: Kanishka Perera (Manager), Omesh Wijesiriwardana (Head Coach), Umal Liyanage (Asst. Coach)

Colombo North U15s (from): Lithum Senuja (Captain), Dulneth Algawatta, Sadeesha Silva, Yenula Danthanarayana, Janindu Induwara, Shan Rishmitha, Kavith de Silva, Buddhima Tharupathi, Lahiru Lakmal, Dinuja Samararathna, Dasith Perera, Senith Nethsara, Gavindu Ranasinghe.

Officials: Jaliya Jayantha (Manager), Duminda Perera (Head Coach), Dhammika Sudharshana (Asst. Coach).