Remarkable achievement by Moratu Vidyalaya

Dilwin MENDIS Moratuwa Sports corr.

Though Moratu Vidyalaya is situated in close Proximity to Colombo they are categorised as an outstation school. This year their team has emerged as a force to be reckoned with as they have come out with flying colours and also broken the record set by Ananda College, Colombo for the most number of outright victories for a season.

They trounced Royal College, Panadura over the week-end to register their thirteenth victory from fifteen games. They have one more game this week that is their Big Match and Vidyalians are favourites to beat their arch rivals Sri Sumangala, Panadura which will be played at Panadura.

The limited over match will take place at De Soysa Stadium on Sunday the 22nd March 2009. This season Ananda College surpassed the record held by Vidyalians who had eleven outright victories under Suranga Fernando in 1994/95 season.

This year they have a well balanced side with several all rounders. Their success is mainly because of the team work and most of the members of the team are representing Old Moratu Vidyalians Sports Club in the Sara Trophy, and under 23 tourney. So far, OMVSC has won three matches outright in the tournament organised by Sri Lanka Cricket under 19 Poolist Lasitha Mendis who too turns out for OMVSC and this season he has passed the four hundred run mark and has bagged 40 wickets.

All eyes are on Deputy Skipper Chatura Hemakumara who too is in the schools squad and turns out for OMVSC. He became the first schoolboy to score a double hundred and passed 1000 runs for the season. In addition to his 205 runs he has scored a century and six fifties and captured 66 wickets.

Sudeepa Kelum is an all rounder who had scored 533 runs and others among the runs are Aloka Priyadarshana, Akila Malinga and Anuruddha Kalhara. In the bowling department they have two specialist bowlers with Chatura Vithana and Asanka Silva who have taken 54 and 40 wickets respectively.

The team will be selected from the following: Lasitha Mendis (Capt.), Chatura Hemakumara (Vice Capt.), Akila Bandara, Sudeepa Kelum, Asanka Silva, Malitha Venashka, Anuruddha Kalhara, Chatura Vithana, Janidu Devinda, Danushka Chaturanga, Roshaka Tharanga, Janitha Nimesh, Aloka Priyadarshana, Avishka Harshadeva, Ishan Nilaksha, Supun Chandana, Tharindu Janadara, Sujeeva Liyanage.