Sri Lanka Domestic News (24 Dec 1996)

Having entered the finals for three consecutive years and winning it twice, Bloomfield on record will go out firm favourites to win the Sri Lanka Cricket Board`s division I and II limited-over cricket final against a rejuvenated Tamil Union team

24-Dec-1996

24 December 1996

Bloomfield Favourites...but Tamil Union Can Upset

by SA`ADI THAWFEEQ

Tamil Union however, have not only the advantage of playing the final on their home ground, but have shown some outstanding fighting qualities of being able to come from behind and snatch victories.

Thus, Bloomfield have to be wary of such unexpected reverses, especially when dealing with a team like Tamil Union.

FIGHTING CHANCE

Tamil Union have done it twice over the weekend, to put themselves in the final with a fighting chance of winning the plum of inter-club limited-over competition by first, defeating a full complement SSC side in the quarter-finals and then, Antonian SC in the semi-finals.

In both games, Tamil Union came back from hopeless situations to turn the game around in their favour, which speaks for the qualities of a good side.

Following a dismal performance in their first three Sara trophy matches this season (all of which they lost), the transformation in the abbreviated version of the game, to elevate themselves into such heights is truly remarkable.

The secret behind Tamil Union`s success is that before the game against SSC, the senior cricket members of the club held a team meeting with the players (for the first time this season) to thrash out where they have been going wrong. The strengths and weaknesses were assessed. Strategies were laid out, and each member of the opposition was scrutinised thoroughly. The players were psyched up so much that they started to believe in themselves and what a remarkable transformation it has turned out to be.

RECEIVING END

They were over the moon when they humiliated SSC on their own grounds (Maitland Place) in the quarter-finals. SSC with a fourpronged pace attack shot out Tamil Union for 104 on a fast pitch, but found themselves at the receiving end when an unknown leftarm pacy from Gurukula MV, Gayan Wijekoon sliced through their batting taking five wickets to dismiss them for a paltry 75.

Having overcome that stiff hurdle, beating Antonian SC would have been a formality. But not quite so. Sent into bat, Tamil Union were tottering at 71 for 6 in 28 overs, when those fighting qualities once more surfaced to pull them out of trouble. Wijekoon again came to Tamil Union`s rescue with a plucky 43 off 74 balls and, he had the support of tailenders Asela Jayasinghe (24) and Niroshan Bandaratilleke (44 n.o.) which raised the total to a defendable 195.

HANDSOME VICTORY

When Antonians replied with 110 for 3 in 27 overs, Tamil Union did not give up hope, but persisted with their spinners to rout the opposition for 144 and earn a handsome victory.

Thus, Bloomfield will be facing a revitalised Tamil Union side which would only make their task of winning the title all the more arduous.

Bloomfield have experience in their ranks with skipper Roshan Mahanama, Sanath Jayasuriya, Ruwan Kalpage and Pubudu Dasanayake among them, accounting for more than 350 one-day international appearances for the country. Such riches the Tamil Union does not have. Muthiah Muralitharan and Upul Chandana`s combined one-day appearances hardly amounts to 70.

Kalpage`s six wickets including a hat-trick and Mahanama`s halfcentury in his first appearance of the season saw Bloomfield get the better of NCC in the quarter-final by three wickets. Their semi-final win over CCC was also achieved with the same clinical efficiency (by six wickets) which has been the hall mark of their successes. On this occasion, it was Jayasuriya with an all-round contribution (41 and 4 for 46) and promising left-hander, Naveed Nawaz (78 not out) who tilted the scales in Bloomfield`s favour.

SHREWD STRATEGIST

In former Sri Lanka captain and all-rounder D.S. de Silva, Bloomfield have a shrewd strategist as coach, whose no-nonsense approach to the game have kept the cricketers` reflexes sharpened.

The Sara Stadium pitch generally favours batting and one hopes it turns out to be so, because the entertainment value in chasing big totals is more than pursuing a moderate one. The quarterfinals and semi-finals have failed to produce high scoring matches - the highest aggregate achieved being 410 off 95.5 overs in the Bloomfield-CCC semi-final clash at Colts grounds.

The winning team will receive Rs.50,000, the runner-up Rs. 40,000 and the Man of the Final, Rs. 10,000. There is also Rs. 5,000 each to Best Batsman and Best Bowler. The prize money will be borne by the Cricket Board in the absence of any sponsor.

THE TEAMS:

BLOOMFIELD (from): Roshan Mahanama (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Pubudu Dasanayake, Naveed Nawaz, Sampath Perera, Ruwan Kalpage, Indika Batuwitarachchi, Hemantha Boteju, Ruchira Palliyaguru, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Priyanka Wickremasinghe, Nilantha Bopage, Batisha de Silva.

TAMIL UNION (from): Damien Nadarajah (captain), Saluka Wijesiri, Indika de Saram, Thusira de Silva, Nilan de Silva, Upul Chandana, Gayan Wijekoon, Asela Jayasinghe, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Muthiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Hathurusingha.

UMPIRES: Peter Manuel and Udaya Wickremasinghe.

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