Avishka Fernando of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa scored 1000 runs this season, he was the first to achieve this feat this year in the Schools Cricket arena. ThePapare.com was able to catch up with this youngster for a brief chat ahead of him achieving this milestone.
Avishka Fernando who is referred to as a humble and silent character by his team mates surely did match the description. He began his first XI career as a young prodigy at a tender age of 13 years. This was something which surprised most opponents and it had them mesmerized with this youngsters stroke play. The first time I personally was exposed to his talent was in his first year against the Royal College, Colombo match which was played in Moratuwa. Young Fernando put the Royal College bowlers in a real fix. This “little boy” cleared the ropes quite effortlessly and proved to be a promising cricketer.
Four years down the line the ‘still’ young Avishka is most favoured to be the first school Cricketer to score a 1,000 runs this season. Being a 3rd year coloursman Avishka has grown as a Cricketer immensely. “It’s the experience I have gained by playing 4 years of 1st XI cricket and playing in the Sri Lanka U-19 team that has made me come this far” said Fernando. He has been a regular member of the Sri Lanka U-19 team under the watchful eyes of Mr. Roger Wijeysuriya who has definitely made this Cricketer something to look out for in the future.
After making a 110 against Thurstan College in his debut year he says his next most memorable inning a 160 runs against St, Anne’s College. Young Avishka was able to grow up and play around famed Sebastian cricketers in the likes of Anuk Fernando, Sanitha De Mel and Amila Aponso who all made a mark in the Sri Lanka schools as well as Sri Lanka U19 teams. “It was a very good experience to play with them. I have learnt a lot form the way they played the game and the way they thought of the game. I consider myself very lucky to have played under such talented players” said commenting on his experience playing with such seniors.
Avishka plans on scoring his 1000 runs this season and given the fact that he can play two more years, he aims to repeat the feat in the coming years as well. On his most memorable moments in his career he said ‘”Playing the Big Match is a feeling unmatched, I always enjoy playing the Big match. To a Cricketer the Big match is like the only match that matters during the season”. When put in a hard spot of choosing between the school and country he said he would have to choose playing for the country because that is his future but said he will always try to give priority to his school because “I am playing for the country because of my school, so I will not forget that”
Avishka Fernando has carried the weight of the team almost solely on his shoulders “if I score big, we most likely win” he said. The second highest scorer in the team has made 400 odd runs this season clearly cutting Avishka above the rest in the team, his contributions seem to be immensely valuable. “My ultimate goal is to play for the country in the senior team, if all doesn’t go well, I will go abroad and hopefully play county cricket” he said on his plans for the future.
Finally this humble soul went on to thank his Father for supporting his career, his school principle, his teachers, friends and “most importantly my coaches and my team mates, for supporting me throughout my career”.
ThePapare.com would like to wish this promising Cricketer to achieve this seasons feat and also hope tp see more of this young prodigy in years to come.
