MATALE : Matale Thomian skipper Ruwantha Prasad Kellepatha joined a select band of schoolboy cricketers to have reached the rare milestone of 100 wickets, which he achieved in the match against Trinity College Kandy, which his side St. Thomas’ Matale won on the first innings by 52 runs.

Ruwantha Prasad Kellepatha

Thus he became the second schoolboy cricketer to reach this milestone of claiming 100 wickets (the first to do it was left arm spinner Anushka Amaratunga of Isipathana College Colombo) in the ongoing Under 19 Inter-School Cricket Tournament 2009-2010.

Kelepatha’s 100th wicket was that of Keheliya Atugoda, who was caught and bowled by him for 60 runs in his 8th over of the Trinity second innings on day two. As a right arm off spinner Kellepatha has made a tremendous impact during the current school cricket season with the ball to reach the century mark in 14 matches.

Kellepatha’s 100 wickets include three 10 wicket match hauls with a best of 12 wickets for 123 against Royal Panadura and the other two being 10 for 114 against Sri Rahula Katugastota and 10 for 129 against Devapathiraja MV Ratgama.

He can also boast of having captured over 5 wickets in an inning on eight occasions - (9 for 39 against St. Peter’s Negombo, 7 for 126 against St. Patrick’s Jaffna, 6 for 129 against Bandaranayake MV Gampaha,7 for 53 against St. Servatius Matara, 8 for 118 against Kegalle Vidyalaya, 9/62 against Ibbagamuwa Central, 5 for 125 against Carey College Colombo and 7 for 210 against Trinity Kandy) - to help his side to record three outright wins and eight first innings victories out of 14 games played so far.

Kellepatha has already inscribed his name in the annals of Matale St. Thomas’ cricket as the first Thomian as well as the first schoolboy cricketer from Matale District to achieve this milestone of 100scalps during a single school cricket season.

The feat also helped him to erase the existing record of 89 wickets that was held by former Matale Thomian cricketer and present cricket coach of St. Thomas’ Matale, Saman Senanayake since 1984.
According to Saman Senanayake - the cricket coach - Ruwantha Kellapatha is a player with immense talent and potential with a bright future ahead of him.