Ananda’s Ashan detonates for record knock
Ananda College cricket allrounder Sammu Ashan last Tuesday hammered a blistering knock of 352 runs in just 123 balls to lead his team to a massive 494-run win in an Inter-School Under-15 Division I cricket match, played against group rivals St. Thomas’ College 
Kotte at Ananda Mawatha.
After hitting the marathon unbeaten triple century, Ashan followed it up spectacularly by picking up six wickets and conceding just 14 runs as he spearheaded an attack which bowled out its opponents for a meager total of 56.
In doing so Ashan became the match winner for Ananda College as he also bettered the highest individual score in an Under-15Division I match. His mammoth score broke the record established by World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who hit 315 runs as a schoolboy cricketer during the early 1980s.
On his way to claiming the national record, Ashan, a stocky yet energetic cricketer for his age of 14, hit 31 sixes and 26 fours on his way to accomplishing his feat. While hitting an effortless triple ton, Ashan featured in an unbroken partnership of 494 runs for the fourth wicket with teammate Shamal Hirushan who made an unbeaten 101 off 91 deliveries, as Ananda College posted a mammoth 550 runs for the loss of three wickets in 50 overs.
Ashan, a fine allrounder, batting right-handed and bowling right-arm off-spin, said that he did not think big while constructing his innings. He added that he never had a personal target when he came out to the middle but batted consistently and freely.
Sammu Ashan
“I just played up to my potential and runs just kept coming. It was something I never expected and I’m glad to have achieved this feat and claim the best individual knock under my name,” a soft-spoken Ashan said.
Ashan, who hails from the cricket-loving town of Ambalangoda down south, played a season for Ananda College in the Under-13 age category before moving on to play with the Under-15 side. His performances were such that Ananda College officials decided to draft Ashan to the First XI squad in the concluded season. Appearing in just 10 games, Ashan made 398 runs with the bat inclusive of a half century and claimed 42 scalps with his off-spinners. Eventually he ended up playing in the coveted Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter against Nalanda College and made reasonable contributions with the bat and ball as a fresher.
“These are achievements I never expected to happen so soon. Of course I have my targets and playing for Ananda College, a leading cricket-playing school in the country, has helped me achieve some of those goals prematurely. My dreams are big and these sorts of accomplishments further boost my future quests,” Ashan explained.
Ashan’s biggest dream is to represent Sri Lanka one day and he has made his intentions felt by being selected to the national Under-15 and Under-17 sides. As a youngster of 14, Ashan was also considered for the Sri Lanka Under-19 initial squad, which is a clear indication of his potential to be a future cricketing star. His achievement last week came into high praise not only from his team officials and teammates but also from many cricket loving people from around his neighborhood as well as from rival teams. Today, Ashan’s feat has made him the talk of the town, with the local media featuring his achievement in newspapers as well as on radio and television. Soft-spoken and quite the opposite of the aggressive player he is on the field, Ashan says that this type of exposure will prove handy for him in time to come.
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