As we look into the 2013/14 school cricket season, Nalanda College Colombo promises to deliver an exciting brand of cricket this season. Enriched with great talents and skill, the Cricketers from Campbell Place are very keen in putting up a disciplined and improved show this season.
History
Nalanda College is regarded as one of the most illustrious schools cricket teams in Sri Lanka. Over the years they have produced top quality, world class cricketers. This trend has been preserved for decades. Nalanda College has been the feeding spoon to the Sri Lanka national team since the early days of Cricket in Sri Lanka. The college was the foundation to the likes of Bandula Warnapura, Anura Ranasinghe,Jayantha Seneivrathne, Lalith Kaluperuma,Kumar Dharmasena ,Roshan Mahanama ,Asanka Gurusinghe,Gamini Wicrkramasinghe and Mahela Jayawardene who have marked the Sri Lanka’s name on the world map.
Since Bandula Warnapura led the 1st official Sri Lanka Test Cricket team in 1975, Nalanda College has been influential in manufacturing leaders such as Mahela Jayawardene who has been the Sri Lanka’s backbone during this new age of T20s, ODI’s and Test Cricket.
Two former Nalandians who played a major role in the 1996 Wills World Cup triumph, Kumar Dharmasena and Roshan Mahanama are presently members of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Match Referees.
Re-Cap of 2012/13 season
Last season, Nalanda College was led by their dependable all rounder Lahiru Jayakody. Skipper Lahiru had a moderate season scoring over 500 runs with 3 half centuries and his deputy for the season was Kusal Dias. Nalanda had an average season as they could not notch up an outright win because they lost to Lumbini College by 59 runs. Nalanda-Ananda Battle of the Maroons ended in a draw with Nalanda taking major honors of the Big Match.
Current 2013/14 season
Nalanda College has played 11 matches so far this season and has managed to pull off a stunning 4 wicket win over the fancied St. Sebastian College, Moratuwa. Nalanda has suffered two defeats against Trinity College and De Mazenod College while the other 8 matches ended as drawn encounters.
Nalanda College’s main goal for the season is to end the season being on the top 10 teams of the Under 19 Division 1 tournament while they will have high hopes of winning the Battle of the Maroons against Ananda College in March.
Dynamic Captain – Woshantha Silva
Nalanda College will be spearheaded this season by their experienced coloursmen Woshantha Silva who has been a consistent performer for Nalanda throughout his 1st XI career. Woshantha has already notched up nearly 450 runs with a brilliant century against St. Anthony’s College, Katugasthota. Woshantha is a skillful player who has already represented Colombo Cricket Club in the SLC Under 23 tournaments for the last two years. The skipper can be a very handful part time spinner if his services are required besides his dashing batting upfront as opener. Woshantha is a born leader and his sound knowledge of the game will be the key to the success of his team.
Talented Vice Captain – Pramud Hettiwatta
Vice captaincy duties will be done by the all-rounder Pramud Hettiwatta who is the only other coloursmen of this present Nalanda 1st XI Cricket team. Pramud is a Left hand middle order batsman who bowls slow left arm spin which torments opposition batsman. Pramud has scored nearly 400 runs so far this season and has taken over 30 wickets. His best bowling figures came against Bandaranayake College, Gampaha when he took a 9 wickets match bag with a 6 wicket haul in the 2nd innings.
Young Brigade of the Season
Nalanda College is filled with young and new faces this season and to every success these young brigade will have to contribute immensely. Right hand middle order batsman Avishka De Silva is a player to watch out as he is in his form of his life scoring 3 consecutive half centuries last few weeks and he add the much needed flair to the Nalanda batting line up. Nalanda’s wicket keeping duties will be done by Senura Amarasinghe who is another promising batsman capable of playing long innings for his alma mater. All rounder Malinga Amarasinghe is another entertaining talent to look out for as his all round abilities can produce match winning performances. Malinga can be a lethal weapon for Nalanda to use in the upcoming big match. Nalanda bowling will be spearheaded by Lahiru Wijerathne and Anuththra Madawa who will be sharing the new ball while Nalanda have the services of Malinga Amarasinghe as another seaming option. The spin attack consists of Pramud Hettiwatta and the leg breaks of Kavindu Bandara with Woshantha Silva bowling off spinners for his team.
Nalanda skipper Woshantha Silva speaking to ThePapare.com expressed his thoughts on the season – “ We will play positive Cricket from the beginning to the end to win every game. I have confidence in my young team. My message to everyone is that we will win the Big Match this year. ”
Full Squad
1. Woshantha Silva – (Captain) – Right Hand Batsman : Off Spinner
2. Pramud Hettiwatta – (Vice Captain) – Left Hand Batsman : Slow Left Arm
3. Lahiru Wijerathne – Right Hand Batsman – Right Arm Medium Fast
4. Senura Amarasinghe – Right Hand Batsman – Wicket Keeper
5. Avishka De Silva – Right Hand Batsman – Off Spinner
6. Malinga Amarasinghe – Left Hand Batsman – Right Arm Medium Fast
7. Dilan Samaraweera – Right Hand Batsman
8. Anuththara Madawa – Right Hand Batsman – Right Arm Medium Fast
9. Kavindu Bandara – Right Hand Batsman – Leg Spinner
10. Ruchitha Perera – Right Hand Batsman
11. Isuru Samarasinghe – Left Hand Batsman
12. Dasun Senevirathne – Right Hand Batsman – Right Arm Medium Fast
13. Ravin Dissanayake – Right Hand Batsman
14. Thilina Rathnasena – Left Hand Batsman
15. Malik Peiris – Right Hand Batsman
16. Kanishka Nirmal – Right Hand Batsman – Right Arm Medium Fast
Remaining Fixtures
January 23/24 vs Thurstan College at Nalanda Grounds.
January 31/February 1 vs Dharmaraja College at Nalanda Grounds.
February 14/15 vs Mahinda College at Nalanda Grounds.
February 21/22 vs St.Thomas College at Mount Lavinia.
February 26/27 vs Maliyadeva College at Kurunegala.
