Sebastianites out to emerge as the best team

Chris Dhambarage

St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa with six outright victories under their belt have put themselves as one of the strong contenders to emerge as the best team in the current inter school under 19 cricket tournament.

Their latest heroics came during the weekend where they trounced St. Sylvester's College Kandy by an innings and 40 runs at the Police grounds in Kandy. Their previous outright wins were against St. Anne's College Kurunegala, Kalutara MV, St. Anthony's College Kandy, Isipatana and De Mazenod College Kandana.

This has been a tremendous improvement from the Sebastianites this season considering the fact that they suffered four humiliating defeats last year at the hands of Royal, Isipatana, St. Peter's and Ananda.

But they have started the new season on a grand note and have been able to maintain an unbeaten record so far having figured in 14 matches both at home and away. Their only minor setback was when they were forced to follow on in the game against St. Benedict's College at Kotahena.

Their batting has been the strong point this time and have piled up over three hundred runs in an innings on as many as seven occasions. They had the satisfaction of amassing a season highest 418 for 6 wickets in the match against St. Joseph's College which was probably their best performance with the bat.

In addition they went on a scoring spree against Kalutara MV (315 for 7), D. S. Senanayake College (303), St. Anne's College Kurunegala (312 for 4), Thurstan College (354), Nalanda College (307 for 9), De Mazenod College Kandana (324 for 5) and St. Sylvester's College Kandy (305) respectively.

St. Sebastian's College will be captained by fourth year coloursman and dynamic all rounder Anuk de Alwis. The right hand middle order batsman hit a top score of 92 against Thurstan College and has two other half centuries to his credit against Nalanda (89) and St. Peter's (56).

The left arm spinner has also captured over 30 wickets in the current season. Last year he scored over 400 runs and bagged over 58 wickets including an eight wicket haul in the Big Match against Prince of Wales College.

Second year player and all rounder Charith Fernando is the vice captain of the team. The left hand middle order batsman and right arm fast bowler is yet to strike form and is expected to deliver the goods during the latter stages of the season. He of course made his presence felt last week by stroking a fluent half century against De Mazenod College on their home grounds at

Moratuwa.

Second year coloursman and left hand opening batsman Deshan Dias who is also their regular wicket keeper has been their most consistent run getter for the current season with over 900 runs to his credit.

He hit a splendid 109 against Kalutara MV and a fighting 123 against St. Benedict's College in the second innings after they had been asked to follow on at Kotahena. He also missed out a century by three runs in the match against Moratu MV. In addition he has compiled six half centuries against St. Joseph's (58), St. Peter's (69), St. Anne's (68), St. Aloysius (57) St. Anthony's College Kandy (78 n.o) and De Mazenod College Kandana (51).

Second year coloursman Oshada Fernando is another prolific run getter having already accumulated over 800 runs this season. The right hand opening batsman carried his bat throughout the innings and missed out a golden opportunity of completing a unique double hundred when he was left stranded on a superb 193 in the game against Thurstan College.

In addition he has two other centuries to his credit against D. S. Senanayake College (115) and St. Anne's College Kurunegala (165 n.o).

Second year coloursman and all rounder Sanitha de Mel is another experienced player in the side having toured South Africa with the Sri Lanka Under 19 team recently. The right hand batsman who missed out the early part of the current season has now begun to deliver the goods with two match winning fifties against De Mazenod College (53 n.o) and St. Sylvester's College (71).

The right arm fast bowler has been equally good with the ball having claimed over 40 wickets this year including six wickets for 43 against De Mazenod and four wickets for 31 against Isipatana which are both match winning contributions.

Second year player and left hander Kasun Fernando is another centurion in this strong batting line up having hit an unbeaten 141 against St. Joseph's and another half century against D. S. Senanayake (51).

Second year coloursman and left arm spinner Amila Aponso is their most successful bowler with over 50 wickets to his credit in the current season. He has been able to carry his excellent form from last year's season with five wickets in an innings on three occasions against St. Benedict's (5 for 80), St. Aloysius College Galle (6 for 57) and St. Sylvester's College Kandy (6 for 74).

Among the newcomers fresher and right hand batsman Viroshana Alwis has been outstanding with three good half centuries to his credit against D. S. Senanayake (75), St. Peter's (59 n.o) and St. Aloysius College Galle (54 n.o).

In addition former under 15 captain and leg spinner Isuru Mendis is also fighting for a place having captured over 40 wickets in the Second XI matches. He is joined by second year player Anoj Gayashan who had the credit of capturing over 35 wickets last year.

Left arm fast bowler Vishwa Fernando, Ashan Fernando, fourteen year old Anuk Fernando, leg spinner Chryshmal Fernando, Anusha Fernando and the present under 15 captain Shahan Fernando are the rest of the player in the First Eleven squad.