Stumpers who are a power behind the wickets
Wicketkeepers play a major role in a team' success - File pic
The man who stands behind the stumps in cricket, the wicketkeeper, plays a major part on the field, as the man with the best view of the field, having direct contact with the bowler and the captain.
A good wicketkeeper always follows the ball from the bowler’s hand till it reaches the bat, and knows in which direction the ball will travel when it hits the bat. The wicketkeeper is a man with a sharp eye, which enables him to be good batsman up front, as most stumpers are good openers.
In the Premier Schools segment the contenders for the Best Wicketkeeper award are Thomian skipper, Sithara Hapuhinna, Nalandian Dilhara Polgampola and Peterite Shanon Fernando.
A keen student of the game, Hapuhinna always gives his bowlers confidence with a job well done from behind the stumps. A bowler always needs the support and encouragement of the keeper, to gain confidence, which Hapuhinna lends to the best of his ability. The Thomian stumper finished the season with a total of 44 dismissals- 38 catches and 6 stumpings- off 21 innings from 14 matches. Hapahinna bats at No.3.
Agile Nalandian wicketkeeper-opening batsman Dilhara Polgampola gives a polished display behind the stumps, with fast foot movement and quick reflexes. The notable feature of his is that he very rarely dives for the ball, but moves behind the ball with nippy footwork. A keeper who adjusts his position from behind the stumps to keep the batsmen under pressure. With Fernando behind the stumps, the Nalandian bowlers are free to make variations and experiments. Polgampola has accounted for 52 dismissals- 46 catches and 6 stumpings off 18 innings from 14 matches.
Shannon Fernando, the outstanding wicketkeeper of St. Peter’s College, had a successful season with 47 dismissals- 40 catches and 7 stumpings. He is an inspiration to the Peterite bowling attack, as the bowlers gain confidence with Fernando standing behind the stumps. His clean collection of the ball and the lightening reflexes in moving to the swinging or spinning deliveries, are a treat to watch. A fine wicketkeeper-opening batsman, he always had a big hand in Peterite victories. A fearless stumper who keeps up to the wicket even for the fast bowlers, making the batsmen uneasy at the crease.
Wicketkeepers from the Emerging Schools who caught the eye of the Selectors were Janeth Kaushal of Karandeniya Central College, Sohan De Livera of Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda, Ravishan Perera of Holy Cross College, Kalutara and Akash Akalanka of of Piliyandala Central College.
Karandeniya Central’s Kaushal accounted for 47 victims- 32 catches and 15 stumpings- from 14 matches, Devananda’s De Livera had a total of 42 dismissals- 36 catches and 6 stumpings from 12 matches. Holy Cross’ Ravishan Perera had a total of 41 victims- 31 catches and 10 stumpings from 12 matches, and Piliyandala Central’s Akash Akalanka had a total of 38 dismissals- 26 catches and 12 stumpings.