Nipun a promising young cricketer

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Nipun Deshan Mnasinghe played a captain's knock to help Sinhalese Sports Club clinch the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) Inter-Cricket Schools' under-13 championship recently.

Nipun, a Josephian, proved his prowess in all three departments during the tournament. He collected 351 runs, maintaining a batting average of 89.2 in eight matches.

His best knock was 105 not out off 117 bowls against Narahenpita CS team and with his fellow batsman Shehan Dilshan (85) they posted an unbeaten 210 second wicket partnership to win the match.

His other remarkable batting contributions in the tournament included 81 against MCA team, 55 not out against Sanath Jayasuriya CS in their quarter final and 41 not out against Roy Dias cricket school. In the final match against Lankans CS, this budding cricketer guided SSC team to victory with a fine knock of 65 off 78 balls and was adjudged the man of the final.

His best bowling figures was against Sanath Jayasuriya CS team, where he captured five wickets out of 13 runs.

Nipun claimed 11 wickets during the tournament. Nipun is a promising young cricketer and showed a great progress in this year.

He was picked as the Best player and Best Bowler in the under 12 tournament conducted by the Roy Dias CS in April.

Nipun scored 223 runs by maintaining an average of 73.3 and captured 16 wickets during the tournament.