Pick of the wicket takers
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From left: Cambrian spinner Kaumal Nanayakkara, Thomian paceman Kalana Perera and Trinity spinner Kavishka Senadeera are the stars
The responsibility of a bowler towards the success of a cricket team is not second to any other member of the team. The good work of the batsmen go with the wind, if the bowlers fail to defend the total they put up. It’s the bowlers who put the side into winning strides by keeping the batsmen in check.
Kalana Perera, a left arm paceman of St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, is a bowler who contributed immensely towards his College’s success. He had a big hand in their historic victory over arch rivals Royal College at the Battle of the Blues earlier this year. He skittled St. Mary’s College, Kegalle, to a mere 6 runs, claiming eight wickets for one run.
Perera has claimed 68 wickets in 27 innings in 14 matches this season. This includes five 5-wicket hauls, giving away 3.03 runs per over. He sent down 279 overs with 43 maidens, and had given away 844 runs. This Thomian lad has taken a wicket for every 12.41 runs.
Kaumal Nanayakkara, left arm spinner of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, has a rich harvest of 95 wickets in 2019. He is the second bowler to claim 100 wickets at the concluded 2018-’19 season. Nanayakkara had a big hand in the Under-23 Provincial Tournament, when Team Colombo won the championship.
This left-arm leg spin bowler’s 95 wickets in the Singer Tournament had come off in 21 innings off 14 matches. He had given away 1076 runs off 513 overs with 46 maiden overs. He was so economical that he had given only 2.10 runs per over. Nanayakkara had captured 5-wickets-per-inning on 14 occasions and having three match bags of 10 wickets. He had claimed a wicket every 11.33 runs.
With a total of 103 wickets, Kavishka Senadeera, Trinity College, Kandy, off-spinner looks a hot favourite to claim the coveted Best Bowlers award this season. He became the fastest schoolboy cricketer to reach the milestone of 100 wickets in 15 matches, with five-wickets-per-inning on 12 occasions. With an average of four wickets in an innings, Senadeera has delivered 489 overs with 85 maidens. This excellent off-spinner has claimed match bags of 10 wickets on five occasions. Senadeera is another bowler who has kept batsmen quiet, giving away only 2.75 runs per over, while claiming a wicket for every 13.04 runs.
These three bowlers from the Premier schools have the attention of the Judges Panel for the Best Bowlers award.
The four bowlers vying for the Best Bowler’s award from the Emerging Schools are Heshan Madusanka of Piliyandala MMV, Nimnaka Jayatilleke of St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota, Ravindu Madusanka and Samith Isuru both of Karandeniya MMV.
Piliyandala MMV’s Madusanka with 87 wickets, including 11 5-wicket hauls and two match bags of 10 wickets, had the respect of the Emerging Schools batsmen, as his variations and flight were difficult to read. His harvest of wickets has come in 28 innings off 15 matches. He delivered 371 overs with a century of maidens, giving away 1,052 runs. His economy rate is 2.84 runs and claims a wicket every 12.09 runs.
Anthonian Nimnaka Jayatilleke claimed 92 wickets at an express rate from 23 innings off 13 matches. This left arm leg-spinner has 10 5-fors and four match bags of 10 wickets. A very economical bowler with a rate of 2.64 runs per over and a wicket for every 9.36 runs. Jayatilleke bowled a total of 326 overs with 81 maidens.
Ravindu Madusanka, the right arm off-spin bowler from Karandeniya MMV, is the highest wicket-taker from among the Emerging Schools, with a rich haul of 98 wickets, from 28 innings off 14 matches, with an economy rate of a wicket off every 3.05 runs. This off-spinner claimed five wickets per inning on 10 occasions and 10-wicket match bags in three matches. He bowled 411 overs with 87 maidens.
Right arm leg-spinner, Samith Isuru of Karandeniya MMV, with 90 wickets, has caused much trouble for batsmen, in combination with Madusanka. He has delivered 442 overs with 106 maiden overs in 30 innings off 15 matches.
With an economy rate of 2.92, this leggie has claimed 5-wickets-per-inning on seven occasions and four match bags of 10 wickets. He gives away 14.37 runs for every wicket.
In the Up-and-Coming Schools category the bowlers in the running for Best Bowlers award are Nadeera Ishan of Vidyaloka College, Galle, Kavindu Maduranga of Nalanda Boys School, Minuwangoda and Venuk Hettiarachchi of Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte.