The 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League or Dialog Invitational T20 League (for sponsors) was a Twenty20 cricket tournament that took place in Sri Lanka from 12 to 24 August 2021.[1] All the matches were played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Kandy,[2] and were used as preparation for South Africa's tour of Sri Lanka and the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[3] Four teams took part, with the top two sides playing each other in the final.[4]
| Dates | 12 – 24 August 2021 |
|---|---|
| Administrator(s) | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| Cricket format | Twenty20 |
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin then knockout |
| Host(s) |  Sri Lanka |
| Champions | SLC Greys (1st title) |
| Participants | 4 |
| Matches | 13 |
| Player of the series | Dasun Shanaka |
| Most runs | Dasun Shanaka (258) |
| Most wickets | Himesh Ramanayake (7) Nuwan Pradeep (7) Pulina Tharanga (7) Seekkuge Prasanna (7) |
Both of the matches scheduled to take place on the opening day of the tournament were rescheduled to the following day due to rain.[5] Following a COVID-19 case in the team hotel, the matches scheduled for 20 August 2021 were moved back by one day.[6] In the final group match, SLC Reds beat SLC Greens by six wickets to join SLC Greys in the final of the tournament.[7] In the final, SLC Greys beat SLC Reds by 42 runs to win the tournament.[8] Minod Bhanuka was named the player of the match in the final and Dasun Shanaka was named the player of the series.[9]
Squads
editThe following teams and squads were named for the tournament.[10] Prior to the first match, several changes to the squads were made. Himasha Liyanage and Kamil Mishara both moved to SLC Greys, and Prabath Jayasuriya moved to SLC Reds.[11] Sandun Weerakkody, Jehan Daniel, Sangeeth Cooray, Koshan Dhanushka, Lahiru Gamage, Ashan Randika and Lasith Embuldeniya all failed a fitness test.[11] Finally, Sachindu Colombage, Nimesh Vimukthi and Mohamed Shiraz all tested positive for COVID-19 and were ruled out of the tournament.[11]
Fixtures
editRound-robin
editSLC Greys
167/7 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Greens
166/6 (20 overs) |
- SLC Greys won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on the first day due to rain, with the match rescheduled for the following day.
SLC Blues
148/8 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Reds
92 (17 overs) |
- SLC Blues won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on the first day due to rain, with the match rescheduled for the following day.
SLC Greys
154/8 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Reds
119/9 (20 overs) |
- SLC Greys won the toss and elected to bat.
SLC Greens
180/2 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Blues
181/5 (19.3 overs) |
- SLC Greens won the toss and elected to bat.
SLC Greens
143/7 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Reds
144/0 (17.3 overs) |
Avishka Fernando 82* (58)
|
- SLC Greens won the toss and elected to bat.
SLC Greys
167/4 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Blues
151/7 (20 overs) |
- SLC Greys won the toss and elected to bat.
SLC Blues
146/7 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Reds
148/4 (19 overs) |
- SLC Reds won the toss and elected to field.
SLC Greys
137/3 (10 overs) |
v
|
SLC Greens
69/3 (5.3 overs) |
- SLC Greens won the toss and elected to field.
- SLC Greens were set a revised target of 74 runs from 5.3 overs due to rain.
SLC Blues
48/1 (7 overs) |
v
|
SLC Greens
|
- SLC Greens won the toss and elected to field.
- Rain prevented any further play.
SLC Greys
156/4 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Blues
33/1 (3.5 overs) |
Sadeera Samarawickrama 20* (13)
|
- SLC Blues won the toss and elected to field.
- Rain prevented any further play.
- Matheesha Pathirana (SLC Greys) made his T20 debut.
SLC Greens
114/7 (15 overs) |
v
|
SLC Reds
118/4 (14.3 overs) |
- SLC Reds won the toss and elected to field.
- The match was reduced to 15 overs per side due to rain.
Final
editSLC Greys
201/4 (20 overs) |
v
|
SLC Reds
159 (19.4 overs) |
- SLC Greys won the toss and elected to bat.
References
edit- ^ "SLC Invitational T20 League to commence on 12th of August". The Papare. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Invitational T20: SLC announces squads and schedule". Nation.lk. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Mathews and Karunaratne overlooked for Sri Lanka Cricket Invitational T20 League". Island Cricket. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "SLC Invitational T20 League captains and squads announced". Colombo Page. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Start of Dialog-SLC Invitational T20 League delayed". The Papare. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Dialog-SLC Invitational T20 League schedule revised". The Papare. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Avishka and Chandimal guide SLC Reds to the Final". The Papare. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "Shanaka's outstanding batting form helps SLC Greys to SLC Invitational T20 League title". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "SLC Greys crowned Dialog-SLC Invitational T20 Champions". The Papare. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka Cricket announce Invitational T20 squads and schedule". The Papare. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Change of teams for Kamil, Himasha & Prabath in SLC T20 League". The Papare. Retrieved 12 August 2021.