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Sri Lanka team that won the Melbourne Renegades Champions League was felicitated at MCG on Friday (18) during Sri Lanka vs. Australia fourth T20I. Here is the champion team’s Manager Dihan Dewage being interviewed live on TV on Friday[/caption]
By Vernon Tissera and Johann Jayasinha from MCG, Melbourne, Australia, 18 February
Despite Sri Lanka are made to trail in their Twenty20 International (T20I) series 4-0 going into the final game on Sunday (today), and despite the fact that Australia did not play their full side today (Friday, 18) in the fourth match of the series here at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG), this current side definitely has enormous promise.
Sri Lanka have struggled in a worse manner when they had been here before. What we gathered, as Sri Lankan expacts at MCG today, is that there is a possibility that this young Lankan outfit can spring a surprise when they will return to Australia in October-November this year for the next T20 World Cup.
If things click at the right time, this team can do magic.
Melbourne Renegades Champions League
Here, it is noteworthy that how another “Sri Lanka Cricket Team”, comprising former players who now live in Melbourne, was felicitated today at the MCG.
Cricket Australia’s (CA) has initiated a set of new programmes for the different ethnic groups here in Melbourne so as to sustain the much-needed multi-cultural atmosphere in the country. CA organises such programmes with greater zest under its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nick Hockley.
“The Melbourne Renegades Champions League” is such an event organised to meet those objectives. The league’s key aim is to increase the number of South Asian cricketers who progress from recreational cricket to professional cricket in Australia.
Champion Sri Lanka team felicitated
It was Sri Lanka who emerged champions in the League this time, the sixth edition of the annual tournament, when they outplayed Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan before beating India in the final.
CA accepted quite gleefully the proposal from two of us to highlight this Sri Lankan victory in today’s game here at MCG. Therefore the champion team was felicitated and it Manager Dihan Nammuni Dewage was interviewed live on TV during the innings break - a very rare occurrence during any international match at MCG.
The Sri Lanka team
This was a very proud and emotional moment for the Sri Lankan supporters at the ground, who easily outnumbered the Australians today, as well as the entire Sri Lankan expatriate community in Australia.
The victorious Sri Lanka team comprised Keith Jansz (Captain), Arosh Janoda, Amal Athulathmudali, Sasith Livera, Dilan Silva, Mohammed Alfar, Malith Cooray, Nigel Van Der Wert, Andy Solomons, Damitha Priyadarshana, Ejaaz Alavi, Mineth Heenkenda, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Suraj Randiv, Thaveesh Attanayake, Vinu Mohotty, and Thivi Salwathura. The Manager was Dihan N. Dewage.
Lanka hailed in TV commentaries
It is also heart-warming to hear our motherland being praised so warmly by the Australians during the live TV commentary of the ongoing Sri Lanka vs. Australia T20I series.
Brendon Julian, Mark Waugh, and Shane Warne, along with Sri Lanka’s Russel Arnold, admired Sri Lanka, its people, and their cricket, during the live commentaries.
Warne’s fabulous remarks on Sri Lanka
On one such instance, the Aus legends inquired about their “old adversary” Arjuna Ranatunga and recalled famous Percy Abeysekera anecdotes before revisiting the unfortunate 2004 Asian Tsunami and how the tragedy had affected the picturesque Galle Cricket Stadium then.
Listening to this, we thought how fascinating the game of cricket has been. In the middle, they were the bitterest enemies yet off the play, the Aus are genuine friends of “the little islanders”.
Nissanka for BBL?
Pathum Nissanka was the star for Sri Lanka this time. The story of the hardships the youngster had undergone in Kalutara on his way to the world stage is well known. Hammering Pat Cummins over mid-wicket fence in Sydney in the first game, Nissanka showed his real character. Nissanka reminded Shane Warne of “Little Kalu” (Romesh Kaluwitharana) of the 1990s.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) must give these youngsters - Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera et al - more exposure Down Under before their 2022 T20 World Cup campaign. Perhaps, a player like Nissanka can be an ideal batter in a couple of Big Bash League (BBL) seasons here.
If prepared properly, this young team can do miracles next time they will be here in Melbourne for the mega event. We as Sri Lankans are really proud despite the loss of our young team. Our cricketing identity and pride have been resonated here in Melbourne so that the whole world could hear.
Today therefore is a memorable day for us. Let’s keep it up Sri Lanka!
Sri Lanka team that won the Melbourne Renegades Champions League was felicitated at MCG on Friday (18) during Sri Lanka vs. Australia fourth T20I. Here is the champion team’s Manager Dihan Dewage being interviewed live on TV on Friday[/caption]
By Vernon Tissera and Johann Jayasinha from MCG, Melbourne, Australia, 18 February
Despite Sri Lanka are made to trail in their Twenty20 International (T20I) series 4-0 going into the final game on Sunday (today), and despite the fact that Australia did not play their full side today (Friday, 18) in the fourth match of the series here at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG), this current side definitely has enormous promise.
Sri Lanka have struggled in a worse manner when they had been here before. What we gathered, as Sri Lankan expacts at MCG today, is that there is a possibility that this young Lankan outfit can spring a surprise when they will return to Australia in October-November this year for the next T20 World Cup.
If things click at the right time, this team can do magic.
Melbourne Renegades Champions League
Here, it is noteworthy that how another “Sri Lanka Cricket Team”, comprising former players who now live in Melbourne, was felicitated today at the MCG.
Cricket Australia’s (CA) has initiated a set of new programmes for the different ethnic groups here in Melbourne so as to sustain the much-needed multi-cultural atmosphere in the country. CA organises such programmes with greater zest under its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nick Hockley.
“The Melbourne Renegades Champions League” is such an event organised to meet those objectives. The league’s key aim is to increase the number of South Asian cricketers who progress from recreational cricket to professional cricket in Australia.
Champion Sri Lanka team felicitated
It was Sri Lanka who emerged champions in the League this time, the sixth edition of the annual tournament, when they outplayed Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan before beating India in the final.
CA accepted quite gleefully the proposal from two of us to highlight this Sri Lankan victory in today’s game here at MCG. Therefore the champion team was felicitated and it Manager Dihan Nammuni Dewage was interviewed live on TV during the innings break - a very rare occurrence during any international match at MCG.
The Sri Lanka team
This was a very proud and emotional moment for the Sri Lankan supporters at the ground, who easily outnumbered the Australians today, as well as the entire Sri Lankan expatriate community in Australia.
The victorious Sri Lanka team comprised Keith Jansz (Captain), Arosh Janoda, Amal Athulathmudali, Sasith Livera, Dilan Silva, Mohammed Alfar, Malith Cooray, Nigel Van Der Wert, Andy Solomons, Damitha Priyadarshana, Ejaaz Alavi, Mineth Heenkenda, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Suraj Randiv, Thaveesh Attanayake, Vinu Mohotty, and Thivi Salwathura. The Manager was Dihan N. Dewage.
Lanka hailed in TV commentaries
It is also heart-warming to hear our motherland being praised so warmly by the Australians during the live TV commentary of the ongoing Sri Lanka vs. Australia T20I series.
Brendon Julian, Mark Waugh, and Shane Warne, along with Sri Lanka’s Russel Arnold, admired Sri Lanka, its people, and their cricket, during the live commentaries.
Warne’s fabulous remarks on Sri Lanka
On one such instance, the Aus legends inquired about their “old adversary” Arjuna Ranatunga and recalled famous Percy Abeysekera anecdotes before revisiting the unfortunate 2004 Asian Tsunami and how the tragedy had affected the picturesque Galle Cricket Stadium then.
Listening to this, we thought how fascinating the game of cricket has been. In the middle, they were the bitterest enemies yet off the play, the Aus are genuine friends of “the little islanders”.
Nissanka for BBL?
Pathum Nissanka was the star for Sri Lanka this time. The story of the hardships the youngster had undergone in Kalutara on his way to the world stage is well known. Hammering Pat Cummins over mid-wicket fence in Sydney in the first game, Nissanka showed his real character. Nissanka reminded Shane Warne of “Little Kalu” (Romesh Kaluwitharana) of the 1990s.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) must give these youngsters - Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera et al - more exposure Down Under before their 2022 T20 World Cup campaign. Perhaps, a player like Nissanka can be an ideal batter in a couple of Big Bash League (BBL) seasons here.
If prepared properly, this young team can do miracles next time they will be here in Melbourne for the mega event. We as Sri Lankans are really proud despite the loss of our young team. Our cricketing identity and pride have been resonated here in Melbourne so that the whole world could hear.
Today therefore is a memorable day for us. Let’s keep it up Sri Lanka!