Pushpakumara Best Allrounder in Premier League

Chris Dhambarage

SSC's prolific run getter Tharanga Paranavithana and his teammate Sachithra Senanayake has been named as the Best Batsman and Best Bowler respectively in the recently concluded Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) organised Premier League Tier 'A' tournament.

Paranavithana and Senanayake played a dominant role during the entire tournament for their club SSC which emerged champions for the 2007/08 season and carried away a cash award of Rs. 150,000 each.

Stylish opening batsman Paranavithana emerged as the highest run getter with a tally of 893 runs including three hundreds and two fifties at an average of 74.41. He had a top score of 236.

Off spinner Senanayake was in tremendous form during the league tournament where he emerged as the most successful wicket taker with a total of 50 wickets at a splendid average of 14.92. He had a best effort of seven wickets for 81 runs and captured five wickets in an innings on two other occasions.

Meanwhile Tamil Union all rounder Muthumudalige Pushpakumara has been picked as the Best Allrounder in the Tier 'A' league tournament. Pushpakumara rattled up 590 runs at an average of 42.14 including one century and two half centuries.

He also captured 34 wickets at an average of 24.02 with a best effort of five wickets for 12 runs.

In the Tier 'B' league tournament Chamil Perera of BRC and Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka Army Sports Club was picked as the Best Batsman and Best Bowler respectively. Perera and Mendis will receive a cash award of Rs. 50,000 each.

Perera accumulated a total of 719 runs including one century and two half centuries at an average of 42.29. Off spinner Mendis who made his one day international debut against the West Indies recently picked up 68 wickets at a fantastic average of 10.51.

Mendis took a matchbag of ten wickets in an innings once and had a five wicket haul on six occasions with a best bowling effort of seven wickets for 37 runs.

Meanwhile veteran Suwanji Madanayake of Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club was named Best Allrounder in the Tier 'B' league tournament. He will receive a cash award of Rs. 60,000.

The left arm spinner who is currently playing league cricket in Liverpool snapped up 34 wickets at an average of 18.06 and had a best performance of five wickets for 42 against Sri Lanka Army SC and took a matchbag of ten wickets against Lankan CC.

As a batsman Madanayake a former Kingswood College captain, who also represents Sampath Bank in the Singer MCA tournament contributed 478 runs at an average of 31.86 and scored half centuries against Moratuwa SC (76), BRC (55), Saracens SC (56) and Police SC (53).