Rain hampers Kandy cricket
Rain impacted badly on the school cricket matches in Kandy over the last two months. The bats and balls have been put away with the approach of the O/L exam. Thus it is an opportune moment to look back on the immediate past.
Trinity, coached by Kavinda Jayasuriya once more, have played like a good team, winning against St. Servatius and St. Benedict’s, having much the better of a drawn against DS Senanayake MV, and being involved in two no-decisions. The Peterite game was probably weighted in favour of the hosts who were on 55-0 in reply to Trinity’s 192-9.
Skipper Boyagoda started off with an unbeaten 130 and Vice Captain Trevor Percival and opener Hasintha Jayasuriya emulated the skipper with hundreds of their own. Pubudu Bandara also came up with some sizeable contributions.
Debutant off spinner Kavishka Senadheera took the honours early on. But the reliable left-arm leggie Vimukthi Nethumal has leap-frogged him to hold sway at the top. Nethumal already has four bags of five wickets or more.
Skipper Avindu Herath, who has the added responsibilities of stumper and main batsman, has compounded their problems with his inconsistent form-opener Pavitran has made some impression, while Manjith Rajapakse has failed to deliver the expected runs. Kasun Ediritilleka and Abishek Isuranga have chipped in to help the team out.
The bowling has been dominated by the impressive paceman Nimsara Attanagalla. His best effort was a 6-44 against the Thomians. He also bagged 5-57 (De Mazenod) 4-22 (Lumbini) and 3-14 (Kingswood). The last effort came in just a couple of overs.
Slow medium pacer Pasan Hettiarachchi helped dismiss Lumbini for 102 by taking 6 for 14. He, like Attanagalla, has contributed with the bat. The other ‘A’ division side, Dharmaraja, struggled along losing badly to St. Joseph Vaz. They have a crop of talented Under-17 players such as Senanayake, Bandara, Dayananda and Warnakulasuriya. In theory, they shouldn’t be struggling.
Possibly, more runs from the captain Bavantha Udaragamuwa may right the ship, which is in danger of keeling over. The Rajans are hopeful that their new coach U.S.C. Perera, an experienced hand, will turn things round.
The Anthonians have played the most (7) and won the most (3). A little 15-year-old, Nimanka Jayathilleka, has taken wickets by the bucket. Newcomers Kalhara Senaratne and Navodya Vijeyakumar have contributed lavishly. Tamashana Abeykoon, a bits and pieces player continues to do what he normally does.
More runs should be forthcoming from the experienced Theeksha Gunasinghe, who has made two half-centuries so far. No decisions against three schools have put the team under a bit of pressure.
Vidyartha didn’t have many red-hot paceman over the last couple of years. Coach Champika Siriwardena has identified the problem correctly and taken remedial measures. Free-stroking left hander Isuru Prabodha is good to watch. The batting depends a bit on Ravishka Upananda, last year’s captain. He has a top-score of 132 not out.
Off spinner Kasun Karunatilleka showed his capabilities with the bat by opening and making a solid 70 against the Anthonians. Young left-arm spinner Medunaka Wijetilleka has made impressive strides on an allrounder.
Faced with a massive exodus of players, Kingswood has found the going tough. On top of that, they have lost the services of skipper Ganidu Kamburugamuwa through illness.
In his absence, Saumya Piyasena has taken on the responsibility and done well as a bowler. He could build on his starts. Pacie Deegayu Bandara and left-armer Lakmal de Silva have taken five-fers.
What the team needs above all is a batsman of some stature around whom the others could bat with the return of the skipper, this lack could be mode good.