Ananda Sasthralaya, a strong combination of pace and spin
View(s):Ananda Sasthralaya, Kotte which stands tall in the old Kingdom of Sri Jayawardenapura is a proud institution which has produced top academics and professionals who are making Sri Lanka proud at home and abroad.
This school with a history of over 125 years has been playing cricket for a long time and their performances were not noticed in the early days where only well known schools from Colombo and outstations occupied the top seats.
Ananda Sasthralaya Squad
In the recent past only three cricketers from this institution gained national recognition with Ruchira Perera donned the national blazer while Shantha Silva and Hemantha Alles represented Sri Lanka ‘A’ team. Every year two or three talented cricketers emerge from Ananda Sasthralaya. However it is sad to mention that their cricketing careers invariably come to an end when they leave the school.
Last year they played 14 matches including the limited over matches and achieved victory in six matches and were qualified to play in the Division II limited over tournament where they ended up as quarter-finalists.
This year the team is led by tall and lanky 3rd year coloursman Isuru Dhananjana, a promising right arm opening bowler and a middle order bat. He is an all-rounder who can turn any match in their favour with his pace and accuracy. He is an attacking batsman as well. Harsha Probodha Issac another 3rd year coloursman is Dhananjana’s deputy. He is also a talented all-rounder who
Harshana Prabodha Isaac Vice-Captain
had a good season last year with 547 runs and 33 wickets to his credit. These two players are the main stays of the team comprising ten coloursmen whom they can boast of along with a host of promising freshers who are seeking inclusion to the team. This year the Kotte lads are a strong combination of pace and spin with four pacemen, an off-spinner, two left-arm leg spinners and a right arm leg spinner. If their batsmen click together and put up a formidable score this strong bowling attack is sure to give the school many victories by dismissing the opponents cheaply.
Neranjan Wanniarachchi and Ayesh Harshana, third year coloursmen who had a successful last season were members of the Sri Lanka Under 17 team played against the visiting Englishmen and also members in this year’s Under 17 squad preparing for the England tour in the near future. Sanjaya Janaka and Sohan Aviskha are all-rounders who had played in district level are two players much is expected this season.
Ayesh Harshana
WHOs WHO:
Isuru Dhananjana: Skipper of the side. 3rd year coloursman, right handed middle order bat and a right arm opening bowler with over 20 wickets and over 300 runs to his credit last season.
Harsha Prabodha Isaac: 3rd year coloursman, deputy skipper. Bats right hand scored over 500 runs and captured 33 wickets last season. A fine fielder at any position.
Timira Malshan: Right handed middle order bat with over 300 runs including a ton and two fifties and a right arm medium pace bowler. A safe field. 3rd year coloursman.
Imesh Chaturanga: 3rd year coloursman. Left hand top order batsman with a correct technique. Collects runs with ease and a good fielder.
Isuru Dhananjana Captain
Ayaesh Harshana: Left handed batsman and left arm bowler. Captured over 30 wickets in 6 matches last year with best being 6 for 41 against S. Thomas’ Bandarawela. Played in the Under 15 Provincial Tournament and a member of the Sri Lanka U. 17 squad preparing for the England Tour. 3rd year coloursman.
Neranjan Wanniarachchi: 3rd year coloursman. Right handed batsman and opening bowler. Member of the Sri Lanka U. 17 team against England in Sri Lanka and a member of the present Sri Lanka u. 17 squad preparing
Neranjan Wanniarachchi
for England tour and a member of the U.19 national squad. Captured 40 wickets in 7 matches best being 7 for 25 against Sri Piyaratne College, Padukka.
Isuru Awinda Jayasuriya: A promising all-rounder. Right hand bat withover 250 runs including three half-centuries and captured 17 wickets with his off-spinners is a 3rd year coloursman.
Bimsara Avinash: Right hand top and left-arm leg-spinner. Fared well with both bat and ball with over 240 runs and 15 wickets in five matches. 2nd year coloursman.
Mega Udara Bahgya: 2nd year coloursman. Wicket-keeper of the side. Right handed batsman had a fair season last year scoring over 250 runs and 15 victims.
Dushan Dhanuka Silva: 2nd year coloursman. Right hand batsman and right arm medium paceman. Fared well with as an all-rounder in the under 17 segment. A safe fielder.
Gihan Dilshan: Fresher. Right hand batsman and a medium fast bowler.
Mahela Madushan: Fresher. Opening right hand bat, right-arm leg-spinner scored over 200 runs in the U. 17 tournament. A good fielder.
Ranul Dayaratne: Fresher. Right handed batsman and a left-arm leg-spinner expected to fate well this season.
Harsitha Malshan: Fresher, right handed lower order batsman and right arm off-spinner.
Miulanga Madushan: Fresher. A wicket-keeper and a right handed batsman
Sanjaya Janaka: Fresher. Right handed bat and a right arm leg-spinner. Played for Matale District U. 15 team before come to Kotte.
Sohan Avishka: Fresher. Right hand opening bat and off-spinner. A member of the Colombo North Provincial team.
Mahela Madushan: Right arm leg-spinner. Right hand bat.
Master-in Charge: D.M. D.M.Jayaratne, Head Coach: Heshan Tillekaratne –
Lakshman Ranasinghe
Pix by M.D.Nissanka