SLC Invitational T-20 continues amidst COVID scare

Despite challenging times due to COVID, Sri Lanka Cricket is continuing the ongoing Invitational T-20 league at Pallekele. The games that were set to be played today have been pushed back by one day as some employees of the team hotel tested positive for COVID, SLC said in a statement.

The tournament that has been telecast has caught the attention of the cricket loving public as it has produced some entertaining games while several young players have come up with some noteworthy performances. Several seniors too have made an impact.

With selectors indicating that performances of this series will be taken into consideration when naming the squad for the limited overs series against South Africa, it will be interesting to see which players will enter the bio-secure bubble in Colombo later this month.

SLC Greys have been the team to watch as they have won all four encounters so far. The leadership of Dasun Shanaka has been applauded at several quarters and Shanaka has been consistent throughout the competition with the bat. His 195 runs is the most in the tournament. Shanaka averages 65 with a strike rate of 172 after four games.

SLC Greens Kamindu Mendis is not far behind having scored 193 runs having batted only three times. On all three occasions, he has posted half-centuries. He averages 95 and has a strike rate of 167, which is sure to earn him a place in the T-20 squad against the Proteas. Sadly though, SLC Greens have had little momentum behind their campaign having lost all four games. Even if they win the remaining two, they will not qualify for the finals.

Greens batting has been solid. Apart from Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka too has chipped in with useful contributions and in fact he is the third highest run getter in the competition.

However, bowling has been a huge draw back for the Greens. They have also had little luck, losing two games in the last over by the narrowest of margins. In their last game, where they had to chase a modest 138, it ended cruelly with Duckworth/Lewis deciding their fate following rain.