Adverse weather conditions may result in D/L rule playing major role

Saturday, 19 September 2020 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tamil Union pair Ravindu Fernando and Sachindu Colombage are congratulated by Galle CC players after Tamil Union completed a comprehensive four-wicket win at the P. Sara Oval on the first day of the tournament

23 Major Club Youth Under-23 matches down for decision

The Major Club Youth Under-23 cricket tournament moves into top gear this weekend with a card of 23 matches down for decision today and tomorrow, but the adverse weather conditions the country is currently experiencing could affect the results of several of the matches.

On Wednesday, when the tournament got off to a start to commence the new 2020-21 domestic season, only one of the 10 games was affected by rain, but still for all a decision was reached under the Duckworth/Lewis rain rule. This weekend, however, the D/L rule is certain to play a major role in deciding the results of several of the matches.

Six teams – Sebastianites, Lankan CC, Ragama CC, Sri Lanka Ports Authority SC, NCC, and Kandy Customs CC – will be coming out for the first time.

Sebastianites will play host to Army SC at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa; Ragama CC will be entertained by Panadura SC at Panadura; Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC will take on defending champs Colts at Dombagoda; NCC will host Kalutara Town Club; and Kandy Customs CC will be the guests of SSC at Maitland Place today.

Tomorrow, Lankan CC travel to Katunayake to take on last year’s runner-up Chilaw Marians CC.

A total of 11 matches are down for decision today, and 12 matches for tomorrow.

CCC, the Premier League Tier A champions, started off the tournament in convincing fashion by thrashing the daylights out of Bloomfield to win by eight wickets, knocking off the 98 runs required for victory in 13.1 overs that has given them a handsome net run rate of 5.503, which none of the other teams could match. They also won with a bonus point. In fact the three teams that won from Group D – CCC, Tamil Union and SSC – all picked up a bonus point each.

Badureliya CC, Chilaw Marians, Kalutara TC and Colts were the other clubs that took a bonus point along with their win on the opening day.

Police SC provided the perfect start to the season by pulling off an exciting one-run win over Navy SC and will look to improve on that performance when they host BRC at Police Park today.

The key game for the weekend will be between CCC and Tamil Union at the P. Sara Oval tomorrow.

Today’s Matches

Sebastianites v Army at De Soysa Stadium

Nugegoda S&WC v Navy at Maggona

Police SC v BRC at Police Park

Negombo CC v Chilaw Marians CC at Katunayake (MCG)

Panadura SC v Ragama CC at Panadura

Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC v Colts at Dombagoda

NCC v Kalutara TC at NCC

Moors SC v Saracens at Moors

SSC v Kandy Customs CC at SSC

Tamil Union v Kurunegala YCC at P. Sara Oval

Bloomfield v Galle CC at Bloomfield

Sunday’s Matches

Army SC v Police SC at Panagoda

Navy SC v Badureliya CC at Welisara

BRC v Sebastianites at BRC

Chilaw Marians CC v Lankan CC at Katunayake (MCG)

Air Force SC v Ragama CC at Katunayake

Panadura SC v Negombo CC at Panadura

Colts v Kalutara TC at Colts

NCC v Saracens SC at NCC

Moors SC v Sri Lanka Ports Authority SC at Moors

SSC v Galle CC at SSC

Tamil Union v CCC at P. Sara Oval

Bloomfield v Kandy Customs CC at Bloomfield