Kingswood skipper brimming with confidence

Kingswood's skipper Anuradha Hettige has a mission to accomplish and a 49 years old Jinx to break when he leads his team out for their annual Big Match in March next year. Their last win in the encounter against the Rajans come way back in 1958. For his past, skipper Hettige exudes confidence. "we're going to win the Big Match. We have an experienced side. The team has done well so far, expect for the game against S. Thomas'."

Winning a match boils down to taking twenty wickets, and Hettige feels that is team has more potential in the bowling department. The emphasis will be on spin, with lots of spinners around. In the present season, the lads from Randles Hill came close to beating Dharmapala, but slipped into reverse gear against D.S. Senanayake. The matches against St. Thomas and Vidyartha turned out to be one day games on account of the weather.

Anuradha Hettige's school career has been blighted for much of the time because of a dislocated left shoulder – the one that matters as he is a Left Arm Spinner. However he feels that the shoulder is upto it now, and match figures of 8-20 against Dharmapala prove that his confidence is well-founded.

The Vice Captain Chalitha Dharmaprema is a lanky Off Spinner who ended up with 30 victims last season. The five wicket bags have by and large eluded him and he should endeavour to strike it rich. He's a handy left hander in the middle of the order.

Having scored around 650 runs last season and having also captured 45 wickets, Prasad Senaratne could be the key contributor to the side this season. An off spinner and a top order bat, Prasad made a half century in difficult circumstances against D.S. Senanayake. A good attacking player, with plenty of shots, left hander Krishan Silva has found that the runs have dried up. Probably, he is an innings or two away from a big knock.

Last year's opener Ashan Seneviratne, a left hander, now bats a little lower down. He is a bit of a gritty customer. Stumper Migara Bandaranaike, who had five catches in the Hashan Tillekeratne Trophy match against D.S., really excelled last seasons in front of the stumps scoring five fifties.Opening bowler Chandima Abeykoon also bats capably. Sajith Atulugama is, like Abeykoon, a medium pacie cum batsman.

The captain's brother Udara Hettige - a left handed opener - has been the find of the season with an impressive unbeaten so against Vidyartha. Hasitha Dharmaprema, the deputy skipper's brother is, like his father Mangala, a right handed opener.Leg Spinner Amila Kangaraarachchi, opening bat Chatura Kumarasiri, reserve stumper Madhawa Maduranga, paceman Lahiru Gannoruwa, and left armer Subodha Premaratne complete the squad.Priyantha Wickremasuriya, who made back to back hundreds in the 1976 and 1977 big matches, is in his second year as coach of his old school. Sunil Herath, the master in change, performs his duties efficiently.