Kandy awaiting school cricket
It has been like “waiting for Godot.” School cricketers and officials alike have been scanning the skies and looking “for that patch of blue, use prisoners call the sky” as Oscar Wilde so eloquently put it in his Ballad of Reading Goal.
Kandy schools are eagerly anticipating full action of cricket in the first term - File pic
Hardly any cricketing activity at senior level took place in Kandy in the November-December period. There were postponements aplenty before the match and, also at the ground.
Dharmaraja has played the most (7), of which five were played in Kandy. Two outright wins, three first innings wins, a no decision and a first innings loss constitute their record. The players who stood out for the Rajans are skipper Thanusha Weragoda, batsman Deshan Gunasinghe, Kavishka Dissanaike, Kavinda Ratnayake (a double centurion) and allrounders Venuka Galahitiyawa and Ruchira Pupulewatte.
Trinity has a slightly better record, with three outright wins, a first innings win and a first innings loss, Arjuna Jayasinghe (top score 147), Nushan Weerasinghe, the opener and keeper Naveen Ekanayake have been in the runs. Skipper Raveen Sayer is not as prolific with the ball as he was last year. However he has contributed with the bat, too. Palie Lahiru Kumara has some impressive hauls. His efforts with the bat (top score 74) cannot be discounted. Spinner Duvindu Tillekeratne (match bag 12 for 49 versus Anurahapura Central) has to produce the goods against sterner opposition.
The Anthonians have played the least of their four games, they beat Vidyartha by an innings, lost to the Thomians by seven wickets and were involved in two no decisions. Skipper Buvaneka Wijetunga has obliged with bat and ball as has Deputy Dilan Bandara, Kavindu Yapa Bandara had one good knock of 71 not out. The top half of the batting has been found wanting. Panditharatne’s loss of form is baffling. The lack of a potent pace pair has put more pressure on the spinners.
Kingswood’s cricket seems to be on the mend. Yet they have had three no decisions out of five. They were comprehensively beaten by a strong Richmond side. Their dismissal of Maliyadeva for 63 and the consequent first innings win was a stunner.
Dilshan Walisundara plays attacking cricket at the top. Yasod Kavindu and Purnima Weerasinghe have chipped in with the bat. Pacie Avishka Chandrasiri has produced some wicket taking spells. But what has happened to skipper Thavindu Liyanage, a good off spinner and bold left hand bat?
Parakrama Tennekoon has been, far and away, the best Sylvestrian batsmen. His unbeaten 87 in a total of 152 against Dharmaraja was a special effort. Skipper Hansamal Perera, very productive last season, is yet to discover that touch.
The Sylvestrian saving grace are the all rounders, Indunil Samarananda, Sivakumara Tyron and Pabasara Perera. Left-armer Nimesha Mendis continues to bowl tight spells. St. Sylvester’s beat Holy Cross outright and won over Moratu Vidyalaya on first innings. They have three no decisions.
Vidyartha has had a barren run, losing two by innings and three on first innings. Skipper Chanaka Ratnayake has stood out. His left-arm spin has produced a seven for and a five for. Vice captain Isuru Weerasinghe and opener Krishantha Jayasuriya have to provide more runs and consistently, too. Rusitha Aravinda, an all rounder, is certainly putting his shoulder to the wheel.
One hopes there will be a break in the weather and that the schoolboys will be enabled to provide the usual thrills and spills in the next three months.