Susamayawardene College have no ground of their own
View(s):Susamayawardene College, Colombo 8, which is 61-years-old is where three national players Akalanka Ganegama, Dimuth Karunaratne and
Susamayawardene College Squad
Jeevan Mendis started their cricketing careers as schoolboys is urgently in need of facilities for the game to go on smoothly.
The school authorities should be commended for keeping the game alive and taking part in the schools cricket tournaments from 1983 without the
Thanuja Kannangara Vice Captain
much needed requirements. This school is sure to produce many more national players as they have some talented youngsters, but it is pity to note that these cricketers have no ground of their own and they practice in the school vicinity with full of dust and sand. They have to practice batting on a damaged concrete wicket which is not suitable and is a threat for the safety of the players.
Nidharshana Kannangara, the Head Coach speaking to the Sunday Times said that the boys should be commended for their participation and sacrifice which enable the game to exist at this school despite shortage of materials, a ground and a good wicket for batting practices. The coach himself a former cricketer of the college said that for the last 18 years he is rendering his service to his alma mater voluntarily without any charge because of his love for the game and the school.
It is high time that the Sri Lanka Cricket authorities visit this school and to help them whatever way which will help this set of courageous lads to show their talents and to gain recognition with the other leading schools.
The dilapidated concrete strip that Susamayawardena cricketers use for practices
A superb all-rounder Nilupul de Silva, a 3rd year coloursman leads this year’s outfit and
Roshan Lakmal
another 3rd year coloursman Thanuja Kannangara is his deputy.. The team can boast of having ten coloursmen in the side who have done exceptionally well last season. Last year the school had played six matches with one outright victory and two wins on first innings.
Much is rested on the shoulders of the skipper this year who holds the schools batting record for the highest score of 144 runs. Deputy skipper Kannangara fared well with his off-spinners last season to capture 36 wickets. The openers Heshan Kavinda and Kavindu Pathum a fine right hand and left hand combination always given the Borella school a solid start which helped the batsmen to follow in piling up a formidable total. In the bowling department this side consists of six off-spinners and a leg-spinner who are capable of running through any strong batting line-up.
WHO’s WHO
Nilupul De Silva: Skipper of the side. A 4th year coloursman. Fine right handed batsman and much is expected from him. Right arm fast medium bowler. Scored over 400 runs last season. Holds the school’s batting record with a score of 144.
Thanuja Kannangara: Deputy skipper. Talented all-rounder. Left hand middle order bat and a right arm off-spinner with 36 wickets and over 250 runs to his credit. Best figures of 36 for 8 wickets against Jayakody Vidyalaya, Batuwatte. 4th year coloursman.
Avishka Umayanga: 3rd year coloursman. Right handed bat and a right arm fast medium bowler capturing over 20 wickets. A good fielder at any position.
Nilupul De Silva - Captain
Heshan Kavinda: Right handed opening batsman, right arm medium fast bowler. Scored over 300 runs including two fifties last year. A 3rd year coloursman.
Thushara Tilina: 3rd year coloursman. Right handed bat and a right-arm leg-spinner capturing over 25 wickets and scored over 250 runs. A reliable fielder at any position.
Sasika Dilshan: 3rd year coloursman. Reserve wicket-keeper and a dependable right hand bat with over 250 runs.
Kavindu Pathum: Left handed opening batsman who always collects runs with ease scored over 350 runs last year with three half centuries highest against Dudley Senanayake Vidyalaya. 2nd year coloursman.
Roshan Lakmal: 2nd year coloursman. Right hand top order batsman and a medium fast bowler. Over 250 runs to his credit including 2 fifties and 20 wickets. A safe field.
Chandana Malshan: 2nd year coloursman. Right hand lower order bat and a right arm off-spinner. An agile fielder in the close region.
Praneeth Thakshila: Right handed batsman, an off spin bowler. 2nd year coloursman who contributed immensely as an all rounder last year.
Shehan Anuranga: Fresher. Dependable right handed bat. Fast medium right arm bowler and a superb fielder in the point region.
Anushka Thawanga: Fresher. Hard hitting right handed bat and a dependable fast medium bowler. A good fielder at any position.
Supun Prasad: Fresher, a right hand bat and a right arm off-spinner. A safe field.
P. Arjun: Right handed bat and a right arm off-spinner.
Minosh Tharuka: Left hand batsman and a right arm off-spinner. A safe firlder.
Isuru Madushan: Fresher. Right hand batsman and right arm medium fast bowler.
Master-in-Charge: S.K. Anurasena
Head Coach: Nidarshana Kannangara Asst Coach: Damith Kannangara
– Lakshman Ranasinghe
Pix by Ranjith Perera