Sri Lanka: Bloomfield go out favourites today (17 April 1998)

Friday 17, April 1998

Bloomfield go out favourites today

by SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

Defending Sara Trophy champions Bloomfield go out strong favourites to qualify for the final next weekend, when they confront Moors SC in the division one (Segment 'A') second semi-final at the SSC grounds beginning today.

Despite the absence of several national stars who are on duty in South Africa, Bloomfield carry enough guns to stop Moors SC from pulling off a surprise win.

The responsibilities of taking the defending champs to the final has fallen on Sri Lanka 'A' team captain Ruwan Kalpage, who will depend largely on the Test experience of wicket-keeper/batsman Pubudu Dasanayake for the club's success. Kalpage has a wide cross-section of talent to pick his squad from. However, the final decision whether to play a spinner (Bateesha de Silva) or a fast-medium bowler (Hemantha Boteju) will rest on the state of the pitch.

Moors SC's entry into the semi-finals have hinged on the all-round capabilities of former Tamil Union and Sri Lanka cricketer Chandika Hathurusingha. Ever since he took over the Moors captaincy this season, Hathurusingha has led by example, a young and enthusiastic team capable of pulling off an upset.

Moors SC are likely to be strengthened by the return from Australia of fast-medium bowlers Tariq Jiffry and Chaminda Hathurusingha. The club went through some anxious moments when at the request of Tamil Union the tournament committee rechecked the scoresheets because of the closeness of the final points standing, and at one time were unsure of their place in the semi-finals. Tamil Union were edged out by a mere 0.5 points.

Moors SC finished second to SSC in Group 'B' with three outright wins from six matches. Bloomfield topped Group 'A' also with a similar number of wins from seven matches.

The first semi-final saw SSC beat CCC on the first innings and qualify to play in the four final scheduled for April 30 at the SSC grounds.

The teams: Bloomfield (from): Ruwan Kalpage (captain), Pubudu Dasanayake, S.K. Perera, Tharaka Gunaratne, Naveed Nawaz, Sampath Perera, Priyankara Wickremasinghe, Ruchira Palliyaguru, Pulasthi Gunaratne, R.L. Perera, Bateesha de Silva, Hemantha Boteju.

Moors SC (from): Chandika Hathurusingha (captain), Saluka Wijesiri, Nilan de Silva, Anura Hettiaratchi, Asela Jayasinghe, Rasika Priyadarshana, Kesara Jayasinghe, S. Sampan, Punyakantha Abeygunasekera, Riyaz Farook, S. Srithar, Tariq Jiffry, Chaminda Hathurusingha, M. Nizam.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)