Asoka College - a determined lot

Anushka WITHANAGE

Asoka College, Colombo can be proud of the fact that it has produced many talented cricketers including Sri Lanka all rounder Dilhara Lokuhettige who had his early education there.

It has made remarkable progress in cricket, outclassing more fancied schools. "If we recall the improvements of our cricket team over the past few years, there have been some remarkable achievements", captain of the under 19 team Pramitha Dananjaya said.

Cricket was introduced to this school in 1990. Asoka College played ten matches this year and won six outright over Karandeniya Central College, Ibbagamuwa Central College, Kularathne College, Ambalangoda, Sri Sumangala College, Kandy, Bandaranayake College, Gampaha and St. Thomas College, Bandarawela. The school registered three first innings wins and emerged group leaders in the Division II category. Asoka College, Colombo in addition it has under - 13, 15 and under 17 cricket teams.

Left-hand batsman Sithija Madushan, was the leading run scorer making an unbeaten 159 in a one-day match against St. Thomas College, Bandarawela. The opener who is the vice Captain took 586 runs including three half centuries in 10 matches. Former Captain Chanaka Hemachandra has best score of 169 in a one day match against Ibbagamuwa Central College. He scored 520 runs including four half centuries in nine matches. In the bowling department right-arm off spinner Sandun Jeewantha has been the front liner claiming 57 wickets. His best achievement was 7 wickets for 12 runs against Gampaha Bandaranayake College.

Their Principal Prasanna Upashantha is doing a great job, giving them all the support they need. Upashantha has taken great pains to improve the cricket standard of the school by providing all the needs of the cricketers - gloves, bats, boots, pads, helmets, balls and nutrition. He has done so within a short period of three months after taking charge of the school and accomplished a huge task of providing the starry cricketers a ground of their own. Importantly, he has taken a great interest in the progress of the players putting them on the right track in cricket.

The difference is that elite Colombo Schools have a lot of opportunities to develop their cricket whereas our school have only limited facilities, the coach told the 'Daily News.' According to Gayantha Jayasinghe, the coach, the team has performed creditably well and gained much experience while the master-in-charge is Sisira Wanniarachchi. The old Boys union has also played its part helping the cricketers in whatever way possible.