Three matches complete but question marks on batting still remain

Monday, 11 August 2025 02:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLC T20 League

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

SLC Greens went to the top of the SLC T20 League with two wins out of two when they beat SLC Greys by five wickets at the SSC Grounds yesterday, but more important than the results is the individual performances of the players, which the national selectors will be looking at to plug a couple of holes in the batting before they sit down to pick the T20I squad for Zimbabwe for a series of three matches. Batting orders no. 4 and 6 are the main concerns and, in this aspect, there has not been any exceptional performances so far which could help the selection. In the three matches played so far, four batsmen have been tried out at the no. 4 position, but apart from Nuwanidu Fernando’s innings of 70 off 52 balls for SLC Greys against SLC Blues, there is nothing exciting to talk about.

Dhananjaya de Silva at this position has scored 18 and 17, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 7, Nuwanidu Fernando 70 and 22, and Sadeera Samarawickrama 36* off 23 balls. No. 6, virtually a pinch-hitting position, has seen three players being given the opportunity. Their contributions have been 6 and 31 (22 balls) by Dasun Shanaka, 36 (26 balls) and 2 from Kamindu Mendis, and 5* and 14 from Chamindu Wickramasinghe. The totals achieved in the three matches played so far are far from impressive. Only once has a team scored a total above 180 – 192/4 by SLC Greys. The rest have been in the 160+ region or thereabouts, which can hardly be called match-winning totals.

Of the four half-centuries scored, Nuwanidu Fernando’s 70 is the highest and his partnership of 122 with Charith Asalanka (59) is the only century stand. The other two half-centuries came in yesterday’s game between SLC Greens and SLC Greys. Niroshan Dickwella struck 52 off 37 balls for SLC Greys, who scored 163-6. Picking the slow deliveries and not afraid to play inside out shots against the spinners and improvise against the other bowlers, Dickwella struck 6 fours in his knock. His innings was cut short by a stunning one-handed catch above his head at covers by Traveen Mathew, who impressed one and all with his all-round prowess. Mathew held onto three catches, ran out the in-form batter Nuwanidu Fernando, and bowled his quota of 4 overs for 26 runs and the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal for 14.

Mathew and the ambidextrous spin of Kamindu Mendis put a brake on the SLC Greys run rate, conceding 40 runs in the 8 overs they bowled, picking up three wickets.

Kamil Mishara, who opened the innings for SLC Greens, was more productive, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 34-ball 52. His two half-century partnerships with Bhanuka Rajapaksa (38 off 20 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes) and with Sadeera Samarawickrama (36* off 23 balls, 3 fours) put SLC Greens on course to victory, which they achieved with 20 balls to spare. Today, SLC Greys take on SLC Blues, who are without a single win after two outings.

Scores:

SLC Greys 163-6 (20) (Niroshan Dickwella 52, Nuwanidu Fernando 22, Nuwan Thushara 2/42, Kamindu Mendis 2/14)

SLC Greens 165-5 (16.4) (Lasith Croospulle 52, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 38, Sadeera Samarawickrama 36*, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2/24)