Chandimal cynosure of all eyes

The traditional rivals and neighbours SSC and NCC will clash in the SLC under 23 division one cricket tournament three day final which begins at the SSC ground in Maitland Place today.

The two unbeaten teams are fresh after having recorded convincing first innings victories in their respective semifinal matches worked off last week. SSC had the better of Ragama CC while NCC qualified with a rousing victory over the BRC.

The cynosure of all eyes will be on NCC's prolific run getter and opening batsman Dinesh Chandimal who has accumulated a total of 536 runs in this tournament inclusive of two centuries and one fifty.

The former Sri Lanka under 19 captain hit a career best knock of 165 against Moors SC and will be hoping for another good batting display having averaged a fantastic 76.57.

In contrast SSC have only one centurion in their line up where skipper Shalika Karunanayake hit a superb 101 in a preliminary round match against Kandy YCC. But the team is studded with some talented batsmen with Krishal Magage and Andy Berenger hoping to strike form.

The teams: SSC (from): S. Karunanayake (captain), K. Magage, H. Fernando, D. Karunaratne, C. Jayampathy, R. Kern, A. Berenger, S. Fernando, U. Wijesiri, C. Gunasinghe, B. Rajapaksa, S. Abeyruwan, K. Withanage, C. Bandara, U. Manohara, M. Fernando and C. Perera.

NCC (from): D. Dahanayake (captain), D. Chandimal, E. Gangoda, S. Wille, S. Pussegolla, C. Kavinga, P. Mendis, S. Silva, S. Gamage, S. Silva, R. Laksiri, R. Wijenayake, C. Issanka, P. Priyadarshana, J. Kerner and S. Amarakoon.