Nalanda pin their hopes on Adeesha and Nipun
Chris Dhambarage
The presence of two Sri Lanka youth players in their line-up will be
the biggest advantage for Nalanda College in the current inter school
under 19 cricket season.
Vice captain Adeesha Nanayakkara and last year's skipper Nipun
Karunanayake are the two heavyweights in the team having performed
extremely well in the recent past. In fact dynamic all rounder
Karunanayake was able to fashion their maiden victory this season
following a brilliant all round performance in the clash against
Isipatana College on their home grounds at Campbell Place.
Left hand top order batsman Karunanayake who toured Australia with
the Sri Lanka under-19 team recently cracked an elegant century that set
the stage for a morale boosting eight wicket victory.
The fourth year coloursman had earlier compiled two fifties against
Maliyadeva College Kurunegala (58) and Dharmapala MV Pannipitiya and has
also captured 16 wickets with his leg spinners.
Last season Karunanayake enjoyed a great amount of success as an all
rounder where he amassed over 600 runs and also captured a total of 79
wickets. This included as many as eight half centuries and with a top
score of 99 and took seven wickets for 44 as his best figures.
Karunanayake had earlier toured Bangladesh with the Sri Lanka
Under-19 team and had the opportunity of compiling one half century and
also snapped up four wickets in an innings twice against India.
This season's vive captain Adeesha Nanayakkara is another Sri Lanka
youth player who made his maiden overseas tour to Australia recently.
The third year coloursman and opening bowler has already made his
presence felt with a seven wicket haul against Maliyadeva College
Kurunegala.
Last season too he made a great amount of contribution to the side as
an all rounder where he scored over 500 runs inclusive of three half
centuries and also captured 43 wickets.
Nalanda College will be captained by third year coloursman and all
rounder Dinuk Jayasinghe. The off spinner produced his best performance
and played a major role in recording their first win this season against
Isipatana College.
In fact this was his second five wicket haul for the current season
following his five wickets for 56 against Prince of Wales College
Moratuwa.
He is also turning out to be a solid middle order batsman and made
his highest score of 86 not out against Maliyadeva College Kurunegala.
In the concluded season he had a fare amount of success where he
scored over 600 runs inclusive of six half centuries and also captured
72 wickets with a best effort of six for 36.
Opening the batting for Nalanda College will be second year
coloursman Prashan Wickremasinghe and second year player Tharindu
Vidanapathirana. Wicket keeper batsman Wickremasinghe has already
notched up two fifties against Maliyadeva College Kurunegala (58) and
St. Peter's College (62) respectively.
Last season too he was in excellent form where he accumulated over
700 runs inclusive of seven half centuries.
Their middle order batting will comprise of all rounder Sineth
Gunawardena, reserve wicket keeper Primesh Dassanayake and Rangana
Cooray.
Among the newcomers off spinner Suranga Tennekoon, Ishan Rangana and
Gayan Madawatte have shown promise and are expected to improve as the
season progresses.
Last season of course the Nalandians experienced mixed fortunes where
they suffered two shock defeats at the hands of Dharmasoka College
Ambalangoda and Royal College respectively.
Even then they also had the satisfaction of recording outright
victories over Richmond College Galle, St. Sylvester's College Kandy,
Sri Rahula College Matara and Isipatana College. |
