Nalanda Skipper leads from the front for 2nd year running
Allrounder Rasanjana is an inspiration to the youngsters and budding cricketers at his school, Nalanda College - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
An inspiring leader and a talented all-rounder is Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe, the Nalanda College cricketer who leads the side for the 2nd successive year. He was awarded the Anura Ranasinghe Memorial Challenge Trophy for his excellent all-round performances last season.
An elegant left-handed batsman who has reaped a rich harvest of runs totaling 918, and a top class off-spin bowler with 62 wickets under his belt to date in the ongoing inter schools cricket season, from 12 outings. The Nalandian skipper has scored 5 centuries and has two match bags of 10 wickets and one match bag of nine wickets. The 4 tons he scored were against Dharmapala, St. Sebastians, DS Senanayake and Wesley Colleges.
Last season, he was adjudged Best Nalanda College Allround Cricketer for scoring 871 runs and capturing 56 scalps. According to this lad, last year’s performances is history, and he is highly focused on the new season and began from the bottom.
A leader who is always ready to accept a challenge and to throw down a challenge at the opponents to make a game interesting. Leads from the front in an exemplary manner to get the best out of his team members.
This elegant left-hander, when at the crease, adjusts his pattern of batting to suit the wicket and the bowling attack. Solid as a rock in defence and in attack, Manasinghe is capable of spraying the bowling into all corners of the field with excellent timing and power, making the fielders mere spectators.
As a fine right arm off-spinner, Manasinghe always prefers to bowl as many dot balls, till the batters make mistakes. pressures the batsmen with attacking fields, and making use of his height to give the ball much air, and bowling different angles using the crease, has brought many wickets, especially in the close in field.
A confident looking Nalanda, skipper speaking to the Sunday Times, said “With the experience I got from leading the side last year, I find my job much easier. Leading a strong side with 7 coloursmen is a matter of pride, as every one in the team lends his fullest support to the me, to the best of his ability”.
The Nalandian skipper plans to score as many runs and capture many wickets in the remaining matches, and is aiming to don the national cap as an all-rounder.
Manasinghe paid a glowing tribute to the Principal of Nalanda College, Thilak Waththuhewa, who himself a fine cricketer, for all the support and encouragement he lends to see Nalanda at the top of schools cricket arena, and to the academic staff members and coaches.