Cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya earned the accolade ‘Master Blaster’ during Sri Lanka’s victorious campaign in the 1996 World Cup with his scintillating batting as an opener. In a strange coincidence it was the team named Master Blasters who emerged Cup champions at the first ever Sanath Jayasuriya Premier League (SJPL) at the Bloomfield ground last Sunday.
The five-team competition conducted in an IPL-style format between students of his academy with four ‘foreign’ players being invited as ‘icons’ saw the emergence of new talent some of whom who have yet to represent their school.
The 30-over tournament for children under 13 years began in April last year and was suspended due to a spike in Covid-19 cases before resuming in December. The teams played each other twice in the league stages before the IPL-style qualifiers and eliminator rounds.
Master Blasters prevailed over Lion Warriors for the third time in the competition with a comprehensive 42-run win in the Cup final while Colombo Cubs trounced Universal Kings by five wickets in the Plate final. Dynamic Spartans were the other team in the competition.
Mahanama College’s Dulneth Algawatta smashed an unbeaten 95-ball 83 cracking 12 fours to help Master Blasters make 192 for three in 30 overs. Algawatte, who was adjudged Player of the Final, featured in an enterprising 85-run stand for the third wicket with Royal College’s Thevidu Wewalla who blasted four sixes and a boundary in his 40-ball 47.
Lion Warriors began the run-chase confidently with left-hander Jason Fernando of St Peter’s batting with great composure and maturity being the dominant partner in an opening stand of 71 with Ahmed Afdhal (14). But a couple of run-outs saw their innings disintegrate from 71 for no loss to 79 for three in the 17th over.
With the asking rate mounting Jason Fernando opened his shoulders before holing out in the deep for a well-compiled 74-ball 77 which was spiced with 10 hits to the ropes. His departure in the 22nd over with the total 106 virtually ended the final as a contest with Masters Blasters fielding smartly and holding onto catches with the spin duo of Tharusha Sandeep (6-0-31-2) and Dunith Sethnal (3-0-13-2) choking Lion Warriors who ended their innings at 150 for eight.
Royalist Rehan Peiris of Universal Kings notched his sixth half century to become the tournament’s highest scorer with an aggregate of 475 runs. But his 66-ball 75 which contained 10 boundaries and a six in a total of 164 for five was enough to prevent Colombo Cubs romping past the target in the 25-over Plate final.
Openers Bihandu Seneviratne and Santhul Wijeyaratne blasted half centuries during a blistering opening stand of 151 in 21.1 overs as Colombo Cubs made 165 for one in 23.2 overs. Man of the match Bihandu smashed a 68-ball 88 spiced with eight boundaries and six sixes while Santhul’s unbeaten 67-ball 57 contained six boundaries and two sixes.
The Orange cap for the highest scorer in the tournament was won by Rehan Peiris whose best score was 92 not out against Master Blasters. Sandaru Meedam of St Peter’s representing Lion Warriors was the second highest with 341 runs including a century. Dharmaloka College’s Tharusha Sandeepa of Master Blasters and Sandaru were the only two centurians in the tournament.
The Purple cap for the highest number of wickets was won by Sandaru Indeepa.
Santhul Wijeyeratne of Colombo Cubs was adjudged the Player of the Tournament. He had an aggregate of 286 runs, captured 14 wickets and held six catches.
Scores
CUP FINAL
Master Blasters beat Lion Warriors by 42 runs
Master Blasters 192 for 3 (30) (Dulneth Algawatta 83 n.o., Thevidu Wewalla 47, Kawshika Kumarasinghe 17 no; Ahmed Afdhal 2-23, Sandaru Meedam 1-23)
Lion Warriors 150 for 8 (30) (Jason Fernando 77, Thiwan Shivashanker 19, Ahmed Fadhal 14; Tharusha Sandeep 2-31, Dunith Sethnal 2-13, Sadew Wijesekera 1-27, Thevidu Wewalla 1-28)
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PLATE FINAL
Colombo Cubs beat Universal Kings by 5 wickets
Universal Kings 164 for 5 (25) (Rehan Peiris 75, Chenuka Marantota 24, Binara Induwara 19, Sehandu 10 n.o., Nethuka Binuk 2-36, Santhul Wijeyeratne 1-29)
Colombo Cubs 165 for 1 (23.2) (Bihandu Senevirathne 88, Santhul Wijeyeratne 57, Tharul Abeywardena 1-22)