Jayasuriya to captain Ruhuna in SL-T20-PL

Six national captains, including four from Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardane, Kumar Sangakkara and T. M. Dilshan, will lead seven Provincial teams in the forthcoming Sri Lanka T20-Premier League (SL-T20-PL) Tournament.


The seventh captain will be former Sri Lanka vice-captain, Chaminda Vaas. The Sri Lanka T20 Premier League will feature almost 35 international cricketing stars and will be the first of its kind in Sri Lanka.

The event organizers, Somerert Entertainment Ventures (SEV) have found a window for the tournament which is sandwiched between Sri Lanka's tour of England and Australia's tour of Sri Lanka.

The event will kick off on July 15th and will go on for 18 days. Twenty four hotly contested matches, including the two semi-finals and the final, will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium. There will be two matches on certain days.

Dashing opener T. M. Dilshan will lead Basnahira while Kumar Sangakkara (Kandurata), Mahela Jayawardane (Wayamba), Sanath Jayasuriya (Ruhuna) and Chaminda Vaas (Uva) will be the other captains.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (Nagenahira) and New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori (Uthura) have been chosen to lead two provinces that were isolated from the game for ages due to the civil war.

Five overseas players could be registered to a provincial team but only four will be allowed to play in a match. Sri Lankan national selectors and cricket authorities have agreed to blood as many youngsters and almost 70 Sri Lankan cricketers will be registered in the seven team tournament.

Almost all Pakistani national cricketers will be invited to play in the SLPL. Factually, Sri Lanka was Pakistan's adopted home in the 2011 Cricket World Cup concluded last month as they played all their first round matches in Sri Lanka.

In addition to that, Chris Gayle and the Bravo cousins (Dwayne and Darren) from West Indies, Pathan brothers (Irfan and Yousuf) from India, Herschelle Gibbs, David Warner and Shaun Tait will be seen in action on Sri Lankan soil.

The availability of retired great Muttiah Muralitharan is not yet confirmed but some unconfirmed sources revealed that he is eager to play in the series.

Milind Rege, the tournament manager of the 2011 cricket World Cup will be in charge of all cricketing matters of the tournament. Rege is a former Ranji Trophy captain for Mumbai and recently retired from TATA corporation as a managing committee member.

Jayasuriya, Tharanga star in Ruhuna's crushing win

Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya at Olam Cup 2010, Singapore 

(Photographer: Critically Cricket)

The former national opening pair of Upul Tharanga 83 not out and Sanath Jayasuriya 53 put up a fireworks display for Ruhunu Province to defeat Sri La Cricket Combined XI by nine wickets in the Inter Provincial Twenty20 cricket tournament match played at Lake View grounds, Kandy yesterday.

Left handed Sanath Jayasuriya smashed quick 53 in just 21 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes while Upul Tharanga made his runs in just 58 balls hitting 3 sixes and 9 fours. They together put on 81 for the first wicket, Dinesh Chandimal too batted well to score 42 not out with 1 four and 3 sixes off 36 balls.

For SLC Combined XI Kithruwan Withanage was in full cry and tore into the Wayamba attack by scoring an aggressive 62 not out with 6 sixes and 3 fours in only 30 balls.

SLC Combined XI 179 for 5 in 20 overs (Achira Eranga 22, Hans Fernando 66, Bhanuka Rajapakse 20, Kithruwan Withanage 62 not out, Tharanga Lakshitha 2 for 29, Sajeewa Weerakoon 1 for 14, Sachithra Senanayake 1 for 20, T .M. Sampath 1 for 4.

Ruhunu Province 181 for 1 in 18 overs (Sanath Jayasuriya 53, Upul Tharanga 83 not out, Dinesh Chandimal 42 not out )

Sanath and Upul steer Ruhuna to a thrilling 4 run win

Sanath Jayasuriya bowling at the Olam Cup 2010 at Singapore.

(Thanks to Critically Cricket for the Image)

Dashing opener Upul Tharanga hit a top score of 93 and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya snapped up four wickets to help Ruhuna Province pull off a thrilling four runs victory over the unbeaten Kandurata team in a key SLC Inter Provincial limited overs cricket tournament match worked off at the Galle Stadium yesterday.

Kandurata chasing a modest 213 runs recovered well after a bad start before falling short by just four runs with two balls to spare. All rounder Jeewan Mendis was the last man out for a fighting 59 which included one six and two boundaries.

Jayasuriya who opened the bowling along with Sachithra Senanayake, caused most of the damage with the best figures of four wickets for 26 runs. Earlier Upul Tharanga hammered a magnificent 93 from 135 balls with seven boundaries to steer Ruhuna to 213 runs after they had won the toss and elected to bat first.

Ruhuna: 213 in 50 overs (U.Tharanga 93, S. Jayasuriya 25, D. Chandimal 25, K. Kulasekera 21, S. Senanayake 22, M. Muralitharan 3 for 47, S. Randiv 3 for 29, D. Fernando 2 for 29).

Kandurata: 209 in 49.4 overs (T. Samaraweera 55, K. Sangakkara 18, C. Kapugedera 32, J. Mendis 59, C. Jayasinghe 20, S. Senanayake 2 for 29, S. Jayasuriya 4 for 26, L. Malinga 2 for 55).

Jayasuriya hits form as Ruhuna humiliate SLC Combined XI

Galle : Veteran cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya returned to form as Ruhuna humiliated Sri Lanka Cricket Combined XI in the BOC Inter - Provincial Cup match here today.

SLCC XI won the toss, and elected to field. Openers Tharanga and Jayasuriya put up a good partnership 108 runs in 19.4 overs.

Sanath Jayasuriya top scored in the match with a 86 ball 87 which included a sixer and 11 boundaries. Ruhuna ended up at a 293 for 6 wickets in 50 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka Cricket Combined XI were tormented by Ruhuna bowlers, especially Lasith Malinga who claimed 4 wickets for 21 in his 8 overs.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa was the only batsmen who offered some resistance to the Ruhuna attack scoring a decent 59 runs.

Ruhuna Won the match by 191 and earned 5 points.

Jayasuriya to participate in Sri Lanka's provincial tournament

After a minblowing performance in the IAT20 Olam cup in Singapore, Sanath Jayasuriya is all set to play for Ruhuna in the provincial tounrnament.

Sri Lanka's much anticipated 50-over provincial cricket tournament commences on February 6 with 76 cricketers, including all the national players, for the championship being contested by six teams - five provincial sides and a Sri Lanka Cricket Invitation XI. This tournament will be followed by the Provincial Twenty20 and the Provincial League. The matches will be played at Colombo, Kurunegala, Galle and the newly constructed cricket stadium at Pallakele.

The 50-over championship is scheduled for February 6 to 21, the Twenty20 from February 24 to March 7 and the League from March 18 to May 9. The Twenty20 has been timed properly to prepare the national cricketers ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean at the end of April.

Last season the League leg was not played due to the unavailability of several players to national duty. Sri Lanka's largest banking sector, Bank of Ceylon, has stepped in to sponsor the three tournaments.

Wayamba beat Ruhuna in exciting Ball-out contest after Jayasuriya Blitz

Two cricketing stalwarts -- Mahela jayawardena and Sanath Jayasuriya having a chat during the downpour.

Wayamba vs Ruhuna (2nd Semi Final): Two captains Sanath Jayasuriya and Jehan Mubarak having a chat with the match referee GF Labrooy before the Ball-out contest

Sanath Jayasuriya added 26 runs in 18 balls with 3 sixes

In the second semi finals of the SLT Inter Provincial T/20 Tournament Lanka Bell Wayamba managed to qualify for the Finals by beating Hirdaramani Ruhuna in a ball out fight as the rain disturbed the game in first half of the match.

After electing to bat first Hirdaramani Ruhuna managed to score 88 runs in 15 overs for the loss of 7 wickets before the umpires stop the game due bad light.

Sanath Jayasuriya scored 26 runs with 3 outstanding sixes. SI de Saram also added 22 runs but faced an unfortunate run out. In bowling I Udana (2/7) and KS Lokuarachchi (2/16) grabbed 2 wickets each.

The real drama began after the umpires called for a ball out to decide the winner of the game as the bad weather condition continued. After few minutes of discussion both teams arrived in to the indoor practice nets for the final act of the day. Fading the hopes of Hirdaramani Ruhuna Lanka Bell Wayamba then managed to win the Ball out contest 3-2 to play against Lexmark Basnahira South in tomorrow's finals

Wayamba stun Ruhuna despite Jayasuriya's heroics

Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis returned to form with a three wicket burst as Wayamba Province scored an upset five wicket victory over the table leaders Ruhuna Province in their SLT Inter Provincial Twenty20 cricket tournament match worked off at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place yesterday.

Mendis returned outstanding bowling figures of three wickets for 14 from 3.4 overs as Ruhuna Province were skittled out for 127 in the penultimate over of the innings. However they were cruising along towards a big total at one stage after skipper Sanath Jayasuriya had provided a flying start to the innings.

The dashing left hand opening batsman plundered 45 runs from just 23 deliveries inclusive of two sixes and half a dozen of boundaries to set the pace for a match winning total. But with the introduction of spinner Ajantha Mendis the game took a dramatic turn with Ruhuna Province losing wickets at regular intervals.

Middle order batsman Indika de Saram who hit a career best 94 in the previous outing against Basnahira North made a desperate attempt to pull his side from total disaster but the rest of the batting simply collapsed against the spin duo of Ajantha Mendis and Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

Wayamba Province then reached their target from only 17.1 overs with opener Mahela Udawatte leading the way. The dynamic batsman smashed 51 runs from 36 deliveries with the aid of one six and seven boundaries.

Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena also returned to form and added the finishing touches with a 28 ball 37 while stroking four boundaries. He also put on 65 runs for the third wicket with Udawatte.

Ruhuna: 127 in 18.4 overs (S. Jayasuriya 45, I. de Saram 22, A. Mendis 3 for 14, K. Lokuarachchi 2 for 16).

Wayamba: 130 for 5 in 17.1 overs (M. Udawatte 51, M. Jayawardena 37).

Discarded Saram shines in Ruhuna win after Jayasuriya / Tharanga Blitz

Sri Lanka discard Indika de Saram hammered a career best knock of 94 to spearhead Ruhuna Province to a rousing 51 run victory over Basnahira North in their SLT Inter Provincial cricket tournament match worked off at the Moors grounds in Braybrooke Place yesterday.

De Saram launched a fierce attack on the Basnahira North bowlers after the two season campaigners Upul Tharanga and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya had provided a flying start to their innings.

Tharanga went on to hit a sparkling half century from 47 deliveries inclusive of two sixes and four boundaries while Jayasuriya raced to a 13 ball 32 with one six and half a dozen of boundaries. De Saram took over the honours from there onwards with a swashbuckling innings from just 43 deliveries that contained as many as nine sixes and four boundaries.

Basnahira North never looked like overtaking this formidable total despite a valiant effort from wicket keeper batsman Kaushal Silva who hit a 47 ball 60 with the aid of nine boundaries. Paceman Tharanga Lakshitha was the pick of the bowlers with excellent figures of four wickets for 28 while Lasith Malinga and Kosala Kulasekera claimed two wickets each.

Ruhuna: 203 for 6 in 20 overs (U. Tharanga 52, S. Jayasuriya 32, I. de Saram 94)

Basnahira North: 152 in 19.1 overs (K. Silva 60, A. Mathews 23, N. Kulasekera 22 n.o, L. Malinga 2 for 24, T. Lakshitha 4 for 28, K. Kulasekera 2 for 28)

Jayasuriya to lead Ruhuna Province team in The Inter-Provincial T20 cricket tournament 2009 conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket

The main focus will be on the Sri Lanka Schools XI when the Sri Lanka Cricket organized SLT Inter Provincial Twenty20 limited overs cricket tournament gets underway in Colombo today.

The Schools team captained by Ananda College skipper and wicket keeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal will take on Ruhuna Province in their opening fixture of the tournament at Braybrooke Place.

Dynamic all rounder and the captain of St. Peter’s College Angelo Perera is the vice captain and both players were members of the previous Sri Lanka Under 19 squad that participated in the ICC Youth World Cup staged in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Schools team will be further boosted with the inclusion of record breaking all rounder and captain of St. Joseph’s College team Shameera Weerasinghe who had the credit of completing the unique double of scoring one thousand runs and capturing one hundred wickets in the current inter school cricket season.

They made a fine impact in last year’s tournament too and will be looking to make a good start to their campaign. However they will be up against the star studded Ruhuna Province team led by dashing opener and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya.

The Ruhuna team will also have the services of several Sri Lanka caps Upul Tharanga, T. M. Sampath, Lasith Malinga and Indika de Saram.

Reigning champs to face tough task

Meanwhile the reigning Inter Provincial league champions Basnahira North will face a tough task when they take on Kandurata Province in another fixture of the tournament at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place today.

Basnahira North captained by Sri Lanka opening bowler Chaminda Vaas had the better of Wayamba Province in last week’s four day tournament final and will be hoping to complete a grand double.

The other key players in the Basnahira North line up are vice captain Thilina Kandamby, Angelo Mathews, Gayan Wijekoon, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Ian Daniel and Nuwan Kulasekera who recently reached the top in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for bowlers in one day internationals.

Sangakkara’s power for Kandurata

The Kandurata Province team will be captained by the newly appointed Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara with spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharn as the vice captain. However they will miss the services of brilliant all rounder Sachith Pathirana who has been forced to pull out from the squad due to an injury.

His place will be taken by Suresh Perera and the other top players in the Kandurata side are Chamara Kapugedera, Dilhara Fernando, Tharanga Paranavithana, Chinthaka Jayasinghe and Thilina Thushara Mirando.

The third match of the opening day will be between Wayamba Province and Basnahira South at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place. Wayamba Province will be captained by Tillekeratne Dilshan with his Bloomfield club mate Chamara Silva as the deputy.

They will also have the services of few talented players in the form of Malintha Warnapura, Malinga Bandara, Suranga Lakmal, Hasantha Fernando, Prasanna Jayawardena and Dilruwan Perera.

Wayamba Province will be strengthened with the inclusion of mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis who will form a good spin combination together with Rangana Herath, Kaushalya Lokuarachchi and Sameera Soysa.

Wayamba Province will be captained by Jehan Mubarak with all rounder Jeewantha Kulathunga as his deputy.

They will also have the services of former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena, opener Michael van Dort and fast bowler Chanaka Welagedera. The tournament will be continued on March 26, 28, 29, 31 with the semifinals scheduled for April 4 at the SSC ground and the final to be worked off on the following day at the same venue.