Pavan could be solution to Sri Lanka’s T20I batting ills

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Player of the Final – Pavan Rathnayake (CCC)

Player of the Tournament – Nishan Madushka (CCC)

CCC collect a cool Rs. 3 m as Major Club 50-over champs

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Pavan Rathnayake gave the national cricket selectors a reminder of his potential as a top order batsman in white ball cricket when he scored a scintillating 158* off 94 balls to steer CCC to a comprehensive 187-run win over Police SC in the SLC Major Club 50-over final played at the CCC grounds under lights on Wednesday.

It was the manner in which he clinically set about the Police SC bowling that impressed everyone present at the venue. He began cautiously getting to his first 50 off 54 balls (6 fours). Then gradually accelerated reaching his second 50 off 21 balls (1 four, 5 sixes) and eventually put his foot on the pedal to race to his third fifty off just 17 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes). Overall, Rathnayake struck 9 sixes and 13 fours in a display of astonishing hitting with some of the balls clearing the ground. He finished with an astounding strike rate of 168. If that kind of hitting didn’t make the selectors sit back and take notice nothing will.

The 22-year-old right-hander from Mahanama College, Colombo has not only displayed his batting skills in white ball cricket, but also in red ball where he scored 56* and 122 in the two four-day unofficial tests for Sri Lanka ‘A’ against a strong Australia ‘A’ bowling attack at Darwin early this month.

Sri Lanka are clearly struggling to get their T20I batting combination right with the No. 4 and No. 6 spots up for grabs and Rathnayake could fit into one of them preferably No. 4. The star-studded CCC side already has Kamindu Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Sonal Dinusha and the national team Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva in their ranks. De Silva could also lend some experience to the T20 side if a place can be found for him.

Rathnayake simply walked away with Rs. 750,000 Player of the Final award with his astounding batting, while his team CCC led by acting captain Sonal Dinusha collected a cool Rs. 3 million as champions. Runner-up Police SC captained by Ashen Bandara picked up a cheque for Rs. 2.5 million.

Other individual awards were won by Nishan Madushka (CCC) for Player of the Tournament (Rs. 1.5 million), Thanuka Dabare (Chilaw Marians CC) for Best All-rounder (Rs. 1.25 million), Sangeeth Cooray (Colts) for Best Batsman (Rs. 1 million) and Movin Subasingha (BRC) for Best Bowler (Rs. 1 million).

The awards were presented by SLC vice president Ravin Wickramaratne, SLC secretary Bandula Dissanayake and Tournament Committee chairman Nalin Aponso.

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