by Rex Clementine
LPL completed its third edition and like the last two editions, the event helped Sri Lanka identify some fresh talents. The event itself created much interest and excitement and was won by the competition’s most organized team – Jaffna Kings.
Skippered by Thisara Perera, it wasn’t the most dominating performance by Jaffna this year like it had been in previous editions. But when it mattered, during the knockout stages - they made it count.
Jaffna lost two games in the league stages and didn’t top the group. That honour belonged to Kandy Falcons, who beat Jaffna Kings twice. Kandy topped the group winning their games handsomely but when it mattered most they faltered.
They lost Qualifier one to Jaffna. Kandy could have still made amends and gone through to the finals, but they faced Colombo Stars who delivered the knockout punch in the second Qualifier. Suddenly the team’s best team was not in the finals.
Maheesh Theekshana, Pathum Nissanka and Nuwan Thushara are talents to emerge from previous editions of LPL.
This time there was Shevon Daniel, 18-years-old and still a schoolboy at St. Joseph’s, Colombo. He toured England this summer with the Sri Lanka Under-19 and scored a hundred in Derby.
Daniel, the nephew of former Sri Lanka cricketer Ian, made the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan in the tournament. Playing for Dambulla Aura, he smashed 80 off 55 balls against Galle Gladiators. His temperament impressed Mickey Arthur, who was coaching the Dambulla side.
Then there was Thanuka Dabare, a top order batsman who is able to accelerate making good use of the Power Plays. He also represented Dambulla and against Kandy Falcons he made a quick 70 off 51. He is 24 and his best years are ahead.
Nuwanindu Fernando, the younger brother of Vishwa Fernando, was another standout performer with two half-centuries and his performances were good enough to earn him selection for the Sri Lankan squad for the tour of India.
LPL has produced not just talents from south of Sri Lanka but even from north players are coming through who are making an impact.
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has been with the Jaffna franchise from the start of the event and it was in this edition that he made an impact with his leg-spin fetching 13 wickets. He was the third highest wicket taker in the tournament. His three-wicket haul knocked Kandy out of the competition and that effort won him the Man of the Match award.
batsman who is able to accelerate making good use of the Power Plays. He also represented Dambulla and against Kandy Falcons he made a quick 70 off 51. He is 24 and his best years are ahead. Nuwanindu Fernando, the younger brother of Vishwa Fernando, was another standout performer with two half-centuries and his performances were good enough to earn him selection for the Sri Lankan squad for the tour of India. LPL has produced not just talents from south of Sri Lanka but even from north players are coming through who are making an impact. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has been with the Jaffna franchise from the start of the event and it was in this edition that he made an impact with his leg-spin fetching 13 wickets. He was the third highest wicket taker in the tournament. His three-wicket haul knocked Kandy out of the competition and that effort won him the Man of the Match award.
