With the cricket season in full swing, ThePapare crew decided to take a look at the Mahanama 1st XI cricket team who were hard on their practices. So far, Mahanama College has produced a number of cricketers who reached beyond the school cricket level.
Duleeka Thissakuttige the best batsman in the 2012 Sri Lankan School Cricket (division 1) with 5 centuries is a product of the Mahanama College.
Up to now Mahanama College played 6 matches this season. The match which took place against the St. Anthony’s College Katugasthota was drawn. In the first innings, Mahanma College was the winner as they scored 193 while Anthonians only scored 145 for 9 wickets. In the second innings Mahanama college was all out for 123 while the day ended with the Antonians on 45 runs for 2.
The match against De Madzanoz was also drawn with Mahanama taking the 1st innings scoring 235 while the opposition exited on 123 in their first innings. The other matches which took place were Maliyadeva, Gurukula, and Trinity that were all drawn due to bad weather conditions. However Mahanama lost against Zahira College Maradana. Batting first Mahanama amassed 221 for which Zahira replied getting all out for 217 just short of the Mahanama total. In the second essay however, Zahira reduced the oppenet to 128 all out and got to 132 for 8 for an outright victory.
Shiram Samsudeen will be the head coach of the Mahanama 1st XI cricket team this season. His prior experience as a cricketer will be a great advantage for the Mahanama. Being a product of Isipathana College, he played club cricket for 10 years on the Malay Sports Club. Over 19 years he was the cricket coach for the Royal, Isipathana, and Thomas. In 2012 Shriram took over Mahanama and continues to deliver.
This season the 1st XI cricket team of the Mahanama will be captained Pavan Devinda. Being a right hand batsman, he scored about 503 runs this season with 4 half centuries. The left arm batsman Naveen Silva will be the Vice captain. He has scored 153 runs so far.
The 2012/2013 1st XI cricket team is a balanced team. Dulanjana Senevirathne the best bowler of the team contributed 22 wickets this season while Kalana Ashan the left arm spinner managed 16 scalps. The combination of Nayana Prabhath, Chamara Silva Praneeth Satharasinghe, Umesh Wijesinghe adds to the bowling brigade at Mahanama.
Pavan Devinda the captian leads from the front followed by Vice captain Naveen Slva, Senura Welagedara, Sahan Peiris, Thanula Wickramasinghe Tharanga Mathangadeera , Dulanjan Silva making up a formidable batting line up.
Battle of the Golds, their traditional cricket encounter against the D S Senanayake college Colombo will be the 7th encounter. Up to 2006 the traditional opponent of the Mahanama Collge was The Rajagiriya President College. Subsequently the administration selected DS as their counterpart to battle in the big match.
The prior 6 encounters which took place against DS all ended up in drawn. This time the high resolve of the school is to win the battle and become the 1st winner of the traditional encounter.
Our boys are really working hard. They will give a surprise in the big match” the head coach of the Mahanam Mr. Shiram Samsudeen stated, speaking to ThePapare
Mahanama 1st XI cricket squad :
Pavan Devinda (Captain), Naveen Silva (Vice captain), Senura Welagedara, Sahan Peiris, Thanula Wickramasinghe Tharanga Mathangadeera , Dulanjan Silva, Dulanjana Senevirathne, Kalana Ashan, Nayana Prabhath, Chamara Silva Praneeth Satharasinghe, Umesh Wijesinghe,Kavinga Darshan, Subuddhi Kaushalya, Kalindu Lakshan,Gihan Sajeewa, Senura Welagedara.
