St. Joseph Vaz win double titles under Rajakaruna
Rising coach of St. Joseph Vaz College, Denuwan Rajakaruna
Former Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer and Tamil Union Under-23 captain Denuwan Rajakaruna has made a sensational coaching debut, guiding St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, to a historic double championship in the Division II Tier ‘A’ 2-Day and Limited Over Tournaments in the 2024/25 season.
Rajakaruna, a former Sri Lanka first-class wicketkeeper-batsman, took over as head coach just six months ago. Under his leadership, St. Joseph Vaz College, who had been relegated from Division I, dominated the season and are now ready for a return to the top tier next year.
In the Division II Tier ‘A’ 2-Day Tournament, St. Joseph Vaz College remained unbeaten, securing nine outright victories in 11 matches, with two first-innings wins. The team, captained by Kavith Fernando and Hansa Mihiranga as vice-captain, sealed the championship by defeating Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya, in the final on a first-innings lead after an outright win over Lyceum International School, Wattala, in the semi-final.
Rajakaruna, 34, has enjoyed an exceptional start to his coaching career, leading St. Joseph Vaz College to 11 outright wins in 14 two-day matches, with only one outright defeat. The success in his debut season is a rare feat in Sri Lankan school cricket.
Leg-spinner Himal Ravihansa, a Sri Lanka Under-19 squad member, emerged as the top bowler in the Division II Tier ‘A’ category, claiming 110 wickets – the only bowler to surpass 100 scalps in the tournament. The batting lineup was equally formidable, with three frontline batsmen—Dominick Fernando, captain Kavith Fernando, and vice-captain Hansa Mihiranga—each scoring over 750 runs. All-rounder Ramesh Fernando stood out, amassing more than 600 runs and taking 75 wickets, making him the season’s top all-round performer.
Rajakaruna, a product of Mahinda College, Galle, played for Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Development teams, as well as in the Lanka Premier League, though he never made it to the senior national side. His club career at Tamil Union was shaped by the guidance of stalwart Dinal Phillips, while current Sri Lanka Under-19 Women’s team coach Mahesh Weerasinghe played a key role in his transition into coaching.
With experience playing and coaching in England and Australia, Rajakaruna’s rapid success in Sri Lanka marks him as a rising star in the coaching arena. Leading a relegated team to double championship glory in just six months is an exceptional achievement. St. Joseph Vaz College’s cricket programme is overseen by Master-in-Charge Randir Karunanayake and assistant coach Dhanuka Nirmal Peiris.
St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa cricket team after clinching the Division II Tier ‘A’ double championship in the 2024/25 season