De Mazenod aiming for the future with a well balanced outfit
View(s):By Naushad Amit
Nadeesha Silva (Capt)
Last season De Mazenod College Kandana, had many intentions of making their mark, but they had an average team. They did remain unbeaten after 15 matches, with five wins and 10 well contested encounters which settled in as draws. The attitude of De Mazenod cricketers still remain the same but what lacks is luck.
With five seniors, namely skipper Nadeesha Silva, his deputy Shanil Perera, Jude Madushan – last year’s skipper, Romario Soysa and Sachith Vishwakula, De Mazenod has an experienced side this year. Yet, wins have eluded them so far despite playing positive cricket.
Shanil Perera
De Mazenod features a powerful batting line up as well as a good mix of pace and spin. So far as the previous season, they have played six games from a total of 15 only to suffer a defeat at the hands of St. Peter’s College Colombo while finishing the remainders in draws.
With nine games to go before the season winds up De Mazenod are certain of claiming a win or two maybe even more if fortune comes their way.
The side is coached by veteran Sanjeewa Mendis and is ably assisted by Malik Keerthi who works hard,
Jude Madushan
closely coordinating with the boys to keep the momentum going on. According to Keerthi, who has been imparting his duties in the capacity of master-in-charge for many years, their cricketers have displayed the true characteristics. The prime reason for their lack of wins may be that many matches were forced to be called off due to adverse weather conditions.
The coaching staff is confident that De Mazenod will be able to regain their winning flow as the season progresses having the confident of a balanced team, inclusive of the five seniors. De Mazenod will be a team blended with the young and experienced. Among the expected performers are last year’s skipper Jude Madushan and youngster Kavinda Manamperi with the bat and left-arm spinner Shaluka Silva from the bowling department. Madushan and Manamperi
are in fine form at present and one of them is tipped to reach the milestone of 1000 runs if matches go on as scheduled.
The side has able batsmen who can keep the line up steady. De Mazenod will have the pride in boasting of a reliable line up formed up with the inclusion of Romario Soysa, Malshan Fernando, Jude Madushan, Kavinda Manamperi, Romesh Perera, skipper Silva, Lahiru Wickramasinghe, Shanil Perera, Shaluka Silva, Sachith Vishwakula and Rukshan Fernando. Their pace attack is formed by Shanil Perera, Vishwakula, Romario Soysa and Ishara Perera. De Mazenod has six spinners – four leg-spinners in Shaluka Silva, Lahiru Wickramasinghe, skipper Silva and Akash Senaratne and two off-spinnes – Madushan and Rukshan.
With a variety of talent and a host of youngsters who can carry on the cricketing mantel of De Mazenod for a few more seasons, they are set to be a dominant force in the coming seasons. But they are eager to kick off that campaign with some wins this season which will provide them the confidence to become a strong team in years to come.
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