Oshada-pride of St.Sebastian’s

Dilwin Mendis Our Moratuwa Sports corr.

How Oshada fared this season

169 vs St Alosious, Galle
16 vs St Annes, Kurunegala
24 vs D S Senanayake, Colombo
0 and 47 vs St Joseph’s, Colombo
34 vs Thurstan College
3 and 4 vs St Peters’
32 and 14 vs Moratu Vidyalaya
21 and 27 vs St Anthony’s, Katugastota
8 vs De Mazanod, Kandana
5 vs Isipatana
42 and 72 n/o vs Royal College, Colombo
85 vs St Sylvesters, Kandy
235 n/o vs Holy Cross College, Kalutara
90 and 14 vs Ananda College, Colombo
16 vs St Benedicts, Kotahena
70 vs St Thomas, Mount Lavinia
129 n/o vs Prince of Wales - Big Match
72 n/o vs Prince of Wales - Limited Overs Match
106 vs Prince of Wales

(Lemonade Trophy Limited Over)

Oshada Fernando of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa could be classed as one of the best batsmen among schools and passed the one thousand run mark for the second consecutive year when he scored 1,012 runs in sixteen outings at a healthy average of 50.2 in the just concluded schools cricket season.

He piloted his school in the 61st Big Match for a convincing win with a scintilating unbeaten 129 runs and this victory came after 44 years when Sebs last beat their arch rivals Cambrians in 1966 under Sarath Perera and also broke the hoodoo of 33 tame draws after Cambrians won in 1977 under Pemlal Fernando. In the process of reaching this milestone he scored an unbeaten 235 runs against Holy Cross College, Kalutara and 169 runs against St. Aloysius’ College, Galle and he missed a well deserved ton by ten runs versus Ananda College, Colombo.

He had four half centuries and held 30 catches. He bowls right arm leg spin and bowls occasionally. His highest score of 235 not out against Holy Cross was a ground record and he erased the previous record held by former Sebs skipper, Air Force and Sri Lanka cricketer Susil Fernando who scored 215 runs against Thurstan College in 1976. Last year he scored an unbeaten 193 versus Thurstan College running short of partners.

He also joins the select band of Sebastianites to score 1,000 runs in two successive years. Susil Fernando 1,114 in 73/74 and 1,245 in 74/75 seasons and Suranga de Silva in 98/99 1,028 and 1,051 in 99/2000 seasons. Oshada Fernando scored 1,101 in the 2009/2010 season with three centuries and five fifties. Also he won the all island under 17 division one Best player title in the year 2009 by scoring 604 runs.

Oshada Fernando commenced his cricket career at the age of eleven at Sri Sumangala College, Panadura and his first coach being former Air Force left arm leg spinner P.P. Silva. He played for under 13 and under 15 teams and in his second year of under 15 he joined St. Sebastian’s and played in the under 15 and was coached by Kanishka Perera. Later he was coached by Sanjeeva Silva and Neil Rajapakse.

After scoring an unbeaten 129 runs in the Big Match and on the following day he was instrumental in beating the Cambrians in the Limited overs match and scored an unbeaten 72 runs and associated in a record partnership of 204 runs for the fifth wicket with his skipper Sanitha de Mel who scored an unbeaten 105 runs. Their partnership enabled to surpass the huge total of 287 for 9 made by Cambrians.

During the three successive visits to the crease Oshada Fernando scored 129 not out in the Big Match an unbeaten 72 in the Limited over match followed by 105 runs against the Cambrians in the Lemonade Trophy Limited overs tournament match with a Bradman’s que average of 307.0.

Oshada plays for Colts cricket club and representing them for the last three years in the under 23 and premier cricket tournaments organised by Sri Lanka Cricket and with these performances he was unlucky not to get selected for the Sri Lanka Schools under 19 cricket team to play against English Schoolboys.

When contacted by the Daily News Sports Oshada said that he is very much grateful to Sri Sumangala College and St. Sebastian’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Bonnie Fernandopulle, his parents, all the coaches MIC Frank Cooray, old boys, his team mates and young Sebastianites and all who encouraged and helped him to come up the ladder.

Further he added that his main ambition is to represent Sri Lanka and he is looking forward for an employer who is willing to help him to achieve his goal.