The SLC Invitational T20 League got off to a great start with two high-quality matches on the first day itself. In the curtain-raiser of the League, SLC Blues and SLC Green clashed in the first match, with SLC Greys and SLC Reds going head to head in the second match of the league.
Let’s look at the match report of both games.
Match 1: SLC Blues vs SLC Greens
SLC Blues won the toss and elected to bat first on the batting-friendly R Premadasa Pitch. The Blues however got off to a poor start as their both openers were back in the dugout at 11. Captain Charith Asalanka (23) and Dhananjaya de Silva (14) took charge of the batting and rescued their team. They however could take Blues to a mighty score. The next batter Ashen Bandara came up with the best score of the match of 37 despite which the team could only muster 122/9. Jeffrey Vandersay was impressed with a bowling figure of 4-12-3.
Coming on to chase what was a small total, the SLC Greens team kept losing wickets at frequent intervals and was sent packing at just 90. Captain Dasun Shanaka held the fort with 37 off of 39 but did not get any support from the other side.
SLC Blues bowling unit impressed with their united performance. Three Blues bowlers came up with two wickets each. In the end, the Blues team won the match by 32 runs.
SLC Blues: 122/9
Ashen Bandara: 37(34), Charith Asalanka: 23(14)
Praveen Jayawickrama: 4-16-2, Dilshan Madushanka; 4-22-2
SLC Greens: 90/10
Dasun Shanaka: 37(39), Pathum Nissanka: 16(26)
Jeffrey Vandersay: 4-12-3, DHananjaya Lakshan: 1-5-1
Match 2: SLC Greys vs SLC Reds
The second match of the league was won by the chasing team as opposed to the first match. SLC Reds elected to field first after winning the toss and restricted the SLC Greys team to just 122/9 in 20 overs. Movin Subasingha (32) and Muditha Lakshan (24) were the two high scorers for the Greys teams. Asitha Fernando with a four-wicket haul was instrumental in restricting the Greys team to a low total.
Coming on to chase the target, the SLC Reds openers Lasith Croospulle (54) and Kusal Mendis (34) came up with sensational performances to make light of the run chase. In the end, the SLC Reds team won the match in just 16.5 overs.
Asitha Fernando was adjudged the Player of the Match for his four wickets in the second SLC Invitational T20 League match.
SLC Greys: 120/9
Movin Subasingha: 32(25), Muditha Lakshan: 24(35)
Akila Dananjaya: 4-36-2, Pulina Tharanga; 3-18-1
SLC Reds: 121/4
Lasith Croospulle: 54(44), Kusal Mendis: 34(30)
Asitha Fernando: 4-22-4, Matheesha Pathirana: 3-16-2
