Sri Lanka Cricket recently hosted the ECB Bunbury XI for a 4 match limited overs series which was played against the Sri Lanka U16 Development XI.
The Sri Lanka U16 Development XI team, which was led by Kamil Mishara who is a product of Mahanama Maha Vidyalaya, Panadura, emerged victors of the series, winning 3 – 1.
The Sri Lankan lads won the first 2 games by six wickets with Kamil Mishara and Avishka Perera leading the way with the bat. However, in the 3rd game the boys from England fought back to win by 98 runs behind a Jack Haynes 93. The 4th game saw a rejuvenated Sri Lankan outfit as they convincingly won the game by 104 runs.
Following this series win, the team got all round praise from former coach and junior national selector Ranjan Paranavithana alongside the manager cum junior selector of the ECB David Graveny. David Graveny stated that “I think the best U-16 players in your country play U-19 cricket as well. I see this as the groove that Sri Lanka has in gearing for the year 2020 U-19 World Cup.” He continued to add “there are so many new players which is a great sign for the future of SL cricket, especially with the likes of Kamil Mishara as a batting captain”.
Graveny, a nephew of famous England batsman Tom Graveny said “It was an honour and a privilege for the Bunbury lads to have toured Sri Lanka as most of their cricket is played on grass”. He also added “it was quite a learning experience, in fact we hope to regularize tour exchanges between the two countries.”
Sri Lankan U16 Squad
1. Kamil Mishara (C) – Mahanama MV, Panadura
2. Avishka Perera (VC) – Nalanda College, Colombo
3. Leshan Amarasinghe – Isipathana College, Colombo
4. Pawan Ratnayake – Mahanama College, Colombo
5. Avishka Tharindu – St Anthony’s College. Wattala
6. Kavindu Umayanga – Holy Cross, Kalutara
7. Chamod Sandaru – Piliyandala Central
8. Sandun Mendis – Richmond College, Galle
9. Kamindu Ranasinghe – St Anne’s Kurunegela
10. Lahiru Madusanka – Kamburawala MV
11. Yasiru Kasthuriarachchi – Mahanama College, Colombo
12. Sasik Hirudika – St Anthony’s College, Katugastota
13. Rohan Sanjaya – Tissa Central, Kalutara
14. Mohamed Shamaz – Zahira College, Colombo
15. Gayantha Wickramarachchi- Maliyadeva, Kurunegela
16. Navod Paranavithana – Mahinda College, Galle
17. Ravindu Rashantha – Dharmasoka College, Hambalangoda
18. Dineth Jayakody – St Joseph’s College, Colombo
19. Niduka Malsith – St Aloysius College. Galle
20. Ashan Dilhara – St John’s College, Panadura
21. Avishka Lakshan – Kalutara MV
