Favourites NMC take on Lanka Lions in final

Favourites New Medical Centre (NMC) take on Allied Transport Lanka Lions today in the final of the 29th Bukhatir League 'A' Division tournament, conducted by the Sharjah Cricket Council.
The day-night final will commence at 3pm.

The title has been won a record nine times by Sharjah Club while Union National Bank lie second in the standing with as many as five titles but they seem to have fallen on hard times off late. Both the finalist, New Medical Centre and Lanka Lions, are the ones who lie next with three titles each.

Under the astute leadership of Sandeep Dhuri New Medical Centre look hungry and are not likely to let the chance slip by. To back them up is their rich experience and talent, which will keep them in good stead on the big occasion.

On the other hand, skipper Janaka of Allied Transport Lanka Lions is equally combative and has the resources to take any opposition by the scruff of the neck, their facile win over powerful Fly Emirates in the semis bear ample testimony to that.

Both the teams can boast of rich abundance of talent available to them.

New Medical Centre is enjoying the abundance of riches so to say and players of the likes of enterprising Taher Javed – if only he could stay for few more overs, peerless Kaif Ghoury, dependable old war horse Satish Shinde, in-form and new recruit Chamara Zoysa, skipper Sandeep Dhuri himself, Indika, L. Fernando and Yogesh Mistry, make an impressive list and every one of them is capable of winning matches on their own on their day.

Leading the pack for the Lions on the other hand in batting is reliable opening pair of Manik De Silva and Presley Polonowita followed by Sidath Tennakone who has a point or two to prove. Gritty Suranjith Dharmasena, Bongso and Jehan Jeyman, to name a few amongst others, have all shown resilience in the past and have refused to give up when cornered. Their bowling is their forte and looks formidable with the likes of two Janakas and ageless Tuan Ahmath who is bowling as well as ever and has impressed one and all with his inspired spells that have troubled almost all the batsmen. Working in tandem will be Manik De Silva and Priyantha who can trouble any batting line up. Additionally their good fielding and wonderful team spirit and community support is going to work in their favour and will definitely help the players to rise to the occasion.

Though it will be foolhardy to predict the outcome of the final, one thing is sure that the final is expected to be a fiercely contested affair.