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Rupasinghe to infuse synergy
By Bernie Wijesekera
Gihan Rupasinghe, the outstanding allrounder from Nalanda, who created many firsts for the school last season, will lead them in the coming school cricket season.

A bowling allrounder, he scored runs aplenty last year. A nimble footed batsman, he scored 876 runs and had a rich haul of over 100 wickets with his wily leg-spinners.

Adjudged the schoolboy “cricketer of the year”, which he richly deserves Gihan, is in the mould of the late Anura Ranasinghe. Gihan came up the hard way, and blossomed out to be a utility allrounder. A future young prospect, he could make the grade of course with proper guidance. He made a tour to Pakistan, early this year and proved his ability and also played a three-day warm –up game against the recent Bangladesh visiting team. In that game he made 37 runs and took 3 wickets.

Sri Lanka Under-19 team toured England in July – August 2005 for a test and one-day international series. Though tagged Under-19, the England team was not so most of them 19-plus. Namely, Mark Footit, gangling left-arm paceman, Adam Harrison and Kevin Latouf a beautiful little batsman in the mould of a Ted Dexter. Had Gihan made that tour with a few others who were left behind for some unknown reason, Sri Lanka could have made it a close series rather than going down meekly.

Nalanda, should enjoy another good season under Rupasinghe, with U.S.C. Perera continuing as coach. Perera who took over from Jayantha Seneviratne, continues improve the skills. Nalanda opens the season against Revata Vidyalaya (Ambalangoda) on Oct. 6 and 7.

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