da leao： As Sri Lanka took on Pakistan in Sharjah and the West Indies limbered up intheir first practice session of a seven-week tour, Sri Lanka’s first classcricketers began another season
Charlie Austin02-Nov-2001As Sri Lanka took on Pakistan in Sharjah and the West Indies limbered up intheir first practice session of a seven-week tour, Sri Lanka’s first classcricketers began another season.This years tournament has been revamped, with the better sides not having toplay against the weakest teams and slightly less cricket all round, but eventhe best spin doctor wouldn’t be able to look you in the eye and say that anew, exciting, high quality domestic tournament is now underway.Nevertheless, for journeymen and ambitious young prospects, the importanceof the tournament is not measured in media hype. The stadiums may remaineerily quiet, apart from a few soggy arrack drinkers in the pavilion, butthis is still first class cricket and a vehicle for selectorial recognition.The top four sides – NCC, BRC, Colts, and SSC – have already qualified for aSuper League stage. They will play each other until the remaining 12 teamshave completed a qualifying round in which six sides proceed to the SuperLeague.NCC, last years champs, started disastrously today. They were bowled out for134 by SSC, who were boosted by the availability of left-arm fast bowlerNuwan Zoysa, making a comeback from an ankle injury, and Suresh Perera, whograbbed four wickets.At Havelock Park, last years runners up, BRC, took on Colts CC. Leg-spinningall-rounder Suranjith Silva, making his debut for the club after a move fromSSC, helped bowl out Colts for 281 as he grabbed six wickets.