Janaka hoping for a break through

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

There are some cricketers who are talented, who perform consistently but are not lucky enough to get in to the national team. Janaka Gunarathne the star all-rounder of Chilaw Marians is a prime example for such a cricketer who is in the peak of his career right now but didn’t come under the previous selectors radar despite some outstanding performances.

The 29 year old off spinning all rounder hit a purple patch in the recently concluded Provincial Tournament as he was the most outstanding player in the Provincial four-day tournament and was also won the best bowler’s award in the Provincial T 20 tournament.

Outstanding all rounder

Janaka stole the lime light with some splendid performances for his team Basnahira South in the Provincial One day tournament.

He was easily the best batsman of the struggling Basnahira South team and was often their crisis man. Janaka who usually bats at no six position for Chilaw Marians was a floater in the Basnahira South batting line up. He scored 195 runs in six games with an average of 32 and an impressive strike rate of over 82. Janaka also struck with his deadly off breaks by claiming eight wickets for 139 runs in six games with an outstanding average of 17.

He continued his great form in the T 20 Provincial Tournament and his tidy off breaks combined with his doosra gave him the edge over even the top batsmen. “I got the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara with my off breaks and it is a moment that I still cherish”, said a smiling Janaka.

In just six T 20 matches Janaka took 12 wickets for 120 runs and his magnificent average of 10.83 was the lowest among all bowlers. Janaka won the best bowler’s award surpassing big guns Murali, Suraj Randiv, Thushara, Kulasekara and Dilhara Fernando. Janaka was used as a strike bowler and his phenomenal strike rate of a wicket in every nine balls proved his worth as the top T 20 bowler in the circuit.

Magnificent with both bat and ball

Janaka shone with both bat and ball in the 4 Day tournament and proved that the format of the game is no barrier to perform in any level of cricket. In four matches, Janaka scored 363 runs with one valuable century and two useful 50s and was a major factor in Basnahira South reaching the finals of the tournament.He averaged a wonderful 51.85 and his strike rate was in the mid 70s.

His first fifty came against the strong Kandurata bowling line up and with wickets tumbling at the other end Janaka who came at no 7 stood his ground and made a well made half century and also put up a valuable partnership with Prasanna Jayawardena to resurrect the Basnahira South innings.

In his next match Janaka continued his blistering batting form as he stroked a wonderful 98 not out in the next match against a top Basnahira North bowling line up. Janaka who came in to bat when his side was tottering at 39 for 5 was cautious at the start. When the score was at 59 Basnahira lost one of their in-form batsman Prasanna Jayawardena and Janaka had to bat with the tail of the batting line-up.

Janaka got used to the seaming conditions and went on to his usual attacking mode and played some delightful cover drives, lofted drives, pulls and cuts and put on a wonderful 8 wicket partnership of 121 with Hasantha Fernando.

After Hasantha got out, Janaka continued to build some useful partnerships with the rest of the batting line up and was nearing a superb century under tremendous pressure. Last man Dhammika Prasad was bowled by Sachithra Serasinghe and Janaka was unfortunately left stranded on 98 with 11 boundaries and two massive sixes.

“After the match our coach Kalu aiyah wanted me to bat at no 4 position and I accepted it because I usually end up batting with the tail” said Janaka when he reasoned out why he was elevated in the batting line up.

The tactical move by Romesh Kaluwitharana worked for Janaka as he stroked a masterful 130 batting at no 4 against Ruhuna in the next match. He scored 130 runs in just 136 balls with 16 fours and four massive sixes and the Ruhuna bowlers were punished to all parts by Gunarathne.

He also put on a great partnership of 203 with Lahiru Thirimanne for the third wicket and enabled Basnahira South to make a huge total of 720 and win the match by 449 runs. Janaka also chipped in with 3 wickets in the Ruhuna second innings.

Janaka also took 10 wickets in the tournament though he was not bowled regularly.

Beginning of a promising career

Janaka who played in the Prince of Wales under 15 to Under 19 teams also Vice Captained the Under 19 team. He joined Chilaw Marians club soon afterwards and was going great guns in the Under 23 tournament in 2000. Chilaw Marians coach Mahesh Weerasinghe identified a few flaws in Janaka’s technique and corrected them. “Our coach Mahesh helped me to improve on my shot selection and also helped me a lot with my bowling” said Janaka.

Janaka Captained the champion Under 23 Chilaw Marians side in 2003 and won the Man of the tournament award for his brilliant all round skills. Due to his sparkling performances Janaka got selected for the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team and toured South Africa and Kenya in 2003.

“Our Club President Godfrey Dabare also helped me a lot in my cricket career, Piyal Wijethunga the spin coach advised me to vary my flight and add more variations to my bowling and also Anusha Samaranayake helped me with my technique” said Janaka.

Future Dreams

Janaka who was ignored by the previous selectors despite some wonderful performances has only found a place in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team standby list. “I hope to get in to the Sri Lanka A team and perform well and be a part of the national team” said Janaka mentioning his cricketing dream.

The selectors will surely have their eyes on promising batsmen in such form and Janaka is definitely on the top of the list and a one to focus on.