Ghouse talented

Anushka Withanage

Zahira College skipper Isham Ghouse is a young talented cricketer and he did well with the bat in the recently concluded schools 1st XI cricket season. The right hand hard hitting middle order batsman contributed heavily for his team's success throughout the season.

Zahira College started playing cricket in 1908 and produced four national players - M. Devaraj, G. Razik, S. Dias, B.M. Mahamood. M.R.D. Hameem (1986/1987), M.M.K Namiz (1986/1987), M. Shafi Sampan (1992/1993) and a fourth player Zahira College skipper Isham Ghouse (2008/2009) are the Zahira batsmen to have reached the 1000 runs landmark.

Ghouse has scored over 1251 runs in 17 matches with one double ton, three centuries and five half centuries.

He scored centuries against Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya (137), Kegalu Vidyalaya (113), St. Benedict's College, Colombo (100) and his personal best being 200 not out against Devananda College, Ambalangoda. He has a batting average of 65.74.

Nineteen year old Ghouse scored half centuries against President's College, Rajagiriya (83), Maris Stella College, Negombo (80), Thakshila College, Horana (71), St. Thomas's College, Mount Lavinia (56) and St. Thomas College, Kotte (53). Apart from his batting he bowls right-arm off spinner and has taken 57 wickets from 17 matches.

He had two five wickets hauls against Devananda College, Ambalangoda and Isipathana College, Colombo. His other outstanding bowling figures are against Ambalangoda Devananda College 3 for 54, Sri Sumangala College, Panadura 2 for 18 and 3 for 38, St. Thomas's College Mount Lavinia 4 for 85, Dharmaraja College, Kandy 2 for 26 and 2 for 29, Kegalu Vidyalaya 3 for 54, Isipathana College, Colombo 5 for 42. His personal best bowling figures are 6 for 24 against Devananda College, Ambalangoda..