Lexmark Basnahira South minus many seniors

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Despite the absence of some of their regular players Lexmark Basnahira South are determined to make their presence felt when the inaugural SLT Twenty20 Inter Provincial limited overs cricket tournament gets underway on April 17 in Colombo.

The team has lost few of their star players including test players Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva and Malinga Bandara who are involved in the high profile Indian Premier League (IPL) during the same period together with left arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa.

However the side under the supervision of Sri Lanka’s acting bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake have made good preparations in the past few week’s and are capable of providing some tough opposition during the event.

In fact they have picked an equally brilliant side which will be captained by Sri Lanka’s regular test wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardena. In addition they will have the services of few other top players who have excelled at the recent SLC Premier limited overs and Premier League four day tournaments.

Jayawardena of course had the opportunity of representing his club Bloomfield in just five matches during the recently concluded Premier League tournament where he held on to 17 dismissals behind the stumps. But this time he has the chance of proving himself in the shortest version of the game and to impress the selectors with a pleasing batting performance.

Their vice captain Hasantha Fernando is another splendid all rounder who has a great amount of experience in the Twenty20 format having represented Chilaw Marians with distinction.

In fact Fernando was one of the few batsmen who was able to top the seven hundred run mark at the Premier League four day Tier A tournament. He aggregated a superb 730 runs from the nine matches to finish with an average of 40. He was easily the most consistent batsman for Chilaw Marians SC with one century and five half centuries.

The Lexmark Basnahira South team has been strengthened with the inclusion of five new players Anushka Polonowita, Milinda Siriwardena, Gihan Rupasinghe, Nimesh Perera and Amila Ratnyake.

In fact Polonowita representing CCC had an outstanding tournament in the SLC Premier League where he collected a total of 634 runs from eight matches at an average of well over 50 runs. He was one of the leading run getters for CCC with one century and five fifties to his credit.

Amila Ratnayake also from CCC had a successful tournament where he captured 24 wickets at an average of 23.9. In addition Gihan Rupasinghe collected 434 runs for Tamil Union with one century and two fifties.

The Lexmark Basnahira South bowling will be spearheaded by NCC’s Chanaka Komasaru who emerged as the second best bowler at the recent Premier League tournament with a tally of 45 wickets from nine matches. He will be supported by Suranga Lakmal of Tamil Union who picked up 28 wickets from just six matches.

The Lexmark Basnahira South team. Prasanna Jayawardena (captain), Hasantha Fernando (vice captain), Dilruwan Perera, Anushka Polonowita, Nisal Randhika, Malintha Warnapura, Milinda Siriwardena, Hemantha Wickremaratne, Chanaka Komasaru, Nandika Ranjith, Gihan Rupasinghe, Suranga Lakmal, Nimesh Perera, Tharaka Kotahewa and Amila Ratnayake. Coach: Hemal Mendis/Manoj Abeywickrema. Manager: Anusha Samaranayake.

The fixtures for Lexmark Basnahira South: April 17: v Schools Invitation XI at BRC, April 18: v E Wis Basnahira North at Braybrooke Place, April 21: v Hirdaramanai Ruhuna at Colts, April 23: v Lanka Bell Wayamba at Colts, April 24: v MAS Kandurata at BRC.