After a weekend of entertaining cricket in Colombo, the Lanka Premier League movesd to Dambulla, where another exciting phase of the tournament awaits. The North Central town will host nine matches, including double-headers over the weekend. The competition will then shift to Kandy before returning to Colombo for the business end, with R. Premadasa Stadium staging the playoffs and the final.
There were no clear frontrunners during the SSC leg of the competition, although Galle Gallants strengthened their position by winning both their matches. They remain the only unbeaten side after the opening round. At the other end of the table, Kandy Royals have work to do after losing both their games. Dambulla Sixers, Colombo Kaps and Jaffna Kings have each won one match and lost one.
Among the local players, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Janith Liyanage have been the standout performers with the bat. South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks and Australians Sam Harper and Ben McDermott have also produced impressive knocks. With the ball, Eshan Malinga, Akif Javed and Binura Fernando have led the way with a string of eye-catching performances.
The resurgence of Charith Asalanka augurs well for Sri Lankan cricket. The left-hander, who captained the national T20 side before being removed just ahead of the World Cup and subsequently lost his place in the team, has reminded everyone of the talent that made him one of the country’s brightest prospects.
More broadly, the tournament continues to serve Sri Lankan cricket well. While it provides players with a lucrative earning opportunity, it also prepares them for the demands of international cricket and offers selectors an ideal platform to assess emerging talent. Equally important, it gives out-of-form players the opportunity to rebuild confidence and revive their careers.
Sharing a dressing room with established international stars such as Shaheen Afridi, James Neesham, Gulbadin Naib, Rassie van der Dussen, Mohammad Nawaz, David Wiese and Moeen Ali can only accelerate the development of the younger local players.
The LPL was launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and although the tournament has experienced interruptions, largely due to franchise ownership changes, it has continued to make steady progress, attracting several high-profile players and coaches. There are ambitious plans to expand the competition to six teams once greater continuity and stability are assured. The tournament is overseen by SSC stalwart Samantha Dodanwala.
from The Island https://ift.tt/E30nm9I
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