The joy, the euphoria that set in after Dharmaraja College won the 2011 Big Match against Kinswood after a lapse of thirty years ended seven days later when the latter pulled off a win, against all odds, in the limited-overs engagement. This was followed by some moderate performances in this year’s Under-17 tournament. In the light of all this, the Rajan cricketers will have to step up to the plate this season.
The early prognostics were not that good. However, victories over Sri Sumangala Panadura and Rahula Matara and the manner in which they were achieved have sent their morale sky-high. Skipper Sadun Weerakkody, a Sri Lanka Under-19 player, should continue to galvanize the team and see that there are no slip ups.
Weerakkody made a big hundred in the only game he played prior to the Indian tour. A left hander who likes to belt the cover off the ball, he will no doubt tailor his aggressive instincts to suit the situation. A Big Match centurion a couple years ago, the skipper has all the credentials to emerge as one of the leading schoolboy batsmen.
Number three bat Viraj Karaputugala is the vice captain. His timely return to form with a sixty in the last game should prepare him for bigger deeds. Third year player Nuwan Karunaratne is the team’s leading all-rounder. A fast medium bowler, he had nine wickets in Sri Sumangala’s second innings. A hard-hitting middle order bat, he is regularly in the twenties and thirties. The school is certainly looking for meatier contributions from him. He captained the Central Province Under-17 team that reached the final.
The Rajans have two left arm spinners in Aravinda Vithanaarachchi and Lakshan Silva. The latter, a newcomer, has made his contribution. Vitharaarachchi is a regular wicket-taker who had a second innings bag of 6 for 12 against Rahula Matara. He is able to exert some control with his length and line.
Deneth Lanka, a young off-spinner, had a few five wicket bags when he broke into the team last year. The fives have eluded him so far but he is a regular wicket-taker. A knock of 96 last weekend attests to his batting ability. Tall, lanky Sasith Gunasekara, a brilliant striker of the ball, opens the batting with Lochana Wijayasiri. Gunasekara, who made a near 150, last year, has an unbeaten 63 as his best effort thus far. Wijayasiri has been contributing his mite.
Lasitha Weeraratne and Oshan Samarakoon are fighting for slots in the batting line-up, while wicketkeeper Ramesh Ranasinghe is more or less assured of his place. Chandimal Silva, a left arm pacie, shares the new ball with Karunaratne. Dharmaraja’s success or failure this season this season will hinge on the performances of Weerakkody, Karunaratne, Gunasekara and spinners Lanka and Vithanaarachchi.
In the last two or three decades, Dharmaraja possessed many talented batsmen such as Senaka Dissanaike, Ravi Rajapakse, Prasanna Walalawela and, the jewel in the crown, Chamara Kapugedara. Yet, despite tall scores, they could not bowl the other side out cheaply twice and were thus deprived of many victories. Priyantha Weragoda, a left arm spinner of note, ploughed a lonely furrow.
Dharmaraja’s tournament matches will be against Zahira, Sri Sumangala Panadura, Trinity, Nalanda, Mahinda, St. Servatius’ and Kalutara Vidyalaya. They will also play against Rahula Matara, Ananda, Royal, St. Anthony’s Katugastota, D.S. Senanayake and St. Sylvester’s. The Rajans are fortunate to have a well-appointed ground, complete with turf wickets. The principal S.M. Keerthiratne and the Old Boys Cricket Wing do not stint in their support. Mild-mannered Ananda Wijesekara, a former Rajan skipper and a coach with lots of experience has a big job on his hands. Sarath Ekanayake is the master-in-charge.
Dharmaraja Cricket squad: Sadun Weerakkody (Captain), Viraj Karaputugala (Vice Captain), Nuwan Karunaratne, Aravinda Vithanaarachchi, Sasith Gunasekara, Lochana Wijayasiri, Deneth Lanka, Lasitha Weeraratne, Lakshan Silva, Oshan Samarakoon, Chandimal Silv, Sashin Abeykoon, Kavinda jayasinghe, Ramesh Ranasinghe, Kavinda Ratnayake, Akila Dissanaike. |
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