da 888casino： The Mercantile Cricket Association announced tonight that eight teams wouldparticipate in this years six-week Division A tournament, which is beingsponsored by Singer Sri Lanka, as opposed to the ten that played last year
Charlie Austin14-May-2001The Mercantile Cricket Association announced tonight that eight teams wouldparticipate in this years six-week Division A tournament, which is beingsponsored by Singer Sri Lanka, as opposed to the ten that played last year.The small number of teams coupled with the availability of national poolplayers is sure to provide for an intriguing tournament.Indeed, the recently appointed selectors are likely to follow the tournamentkeenly, as they look for the winning formula against India and New Zealand.Unlike the unwieldy Premier League one-day competition, which has so manyspurious encounters that fine individual performances are often renderedmeaningless, the Mercantile tournament pits the cream of Sri Lanka’scricketers against each other.The likes of Sajeewa Weerakoon, Ian Daniel, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara,Kaushalya Weereratne, Malintha Warnapura, Suresh Perera, JeevanthaKalatunga, Akalanka Ganegama, Ishara Amarasinghe, and Sujeewa de Silva – toname but a few of the promising players now waiting in the wings – now havea chance to stake there claim for recognition.Even an old dog like Hashan Tillakaratne, who scored a mountain of runs thisseason for Nondescripts, could force his way back into the Test squad on theback of a successful tournament, especially with uncertainty as to theavailability of Aravinda de Silva.Last years winners, Hatton National Bank, once again can boast an impressiveline-up and possibly start as favourites. The batting is strong, thoughperhaps somewhat unreliable, with the likes of Avishka Gunawardene,Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, and Chintaka Jayasinghe.In the spin department they can count on the golden left arm of SajeewaWeerakoon, the highest first class wicket taker of the season, the offcutters of Malintha Warnapura, and leg spin of Nimesh Perera, a player whoappears to have regained the all round school boy form that earmarked him asa future Sri Lankan player.Another side to watch will be Access International, the runners up lastyear, who have Aravinda de Silva, a clutch of Tamil Union players, includingthe tongue twisting Anil Riddigammanagedara, Indika de Serem, and NiroshanBandaratilake, an old workhorse in Pramodya Wickramasinge, and the promisingSuresh Perera.Seylan Bank is quietly hopeful this year. They have the best batsman in thecountry at the moment, Mahela Jayawardene, the wiliest seamer, ChamindaVaas, and fastest bowler, Dilhara Fernando. With Thilan Samaraweera,Kaushalya Weeraratne, Ian Daniel, Pradeep Hewage and Nawed Nawaz filling theranks, they have every right to be hopeful too.Samath Bank will be no push over either with Kumar Sangakkara, MarvanAttapattu, Upeka Fernando, Chandika Haturasinghe, Indika Gallage and RanganaHerath.Each team will play each other once, then the best four will go through to asemi final on June 16, with the final scheduled for June 23. All the matcheswill be played at Bloomfield, Moors, Colts and NCC.