Cricketing jargon that says ‘catches win matches’ is true, but along with that bowling and batting also has to be good to win matches.
This is what Lankan CC coach Nuwan Shiroman believed in as his players emerged winners in the under-23 cricket championship. They defeated the more fancied SSC at Maitland Place last week.
Shiroman is a former first class cricketer who is in his second year as coach of the Lankan CC team and he noted that the team spirit was also high during the tournament.
Lankan CC had also won the Premier Tier B title twice before and were promoted to Tier A.
“We hardly dropped a catch during the tournament. We haven’t any big names nor experience but they were ready to apply the pressure on the opponents that forced them to make the mistakes. This was our plan during the tournament,” said Shiroman.
The team ended up on top of their group very comfortably to earn a slot in the semi-finals. They beat Colts CC at the Sara Oval by three wickets to enter the final.
That was enough to give them the confidence to take on SSC in the final.
“Our spin department is very strong. Dunith Wellalage the 18-year-old Josephian led the way. Yasiru Rodrigo the only left arm paceman did his part really well and the spinners supported him well.
“Our little known batsmen contributed immensely. Kasun Abeyratne and Damitha Silva were the strength in the middle order. Besides, we had a mentor who strengthened the minds of the players which was important,” said Shiroman.
Lankan CC does not have a ground of their own. They first practiced at the Bloomfield ground and later shifted to Thurstan ground.
They were also lucky to find a sponsor later in the tournament in SEARCH Enterprises whose chairman Aravinth came from the UK to sponsor the team for the first time.
The 46-year-old coach Shiroman also played for Lankan CC and scored 79 runs as an opening batsman in the Tier B final against BRC in 2007.
Earlier, he played league cricket and coached in Australia. He was the coach of the Thailand team before returning to the Lankan CC team.