Nilusha will lead Vidyartha

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports Correspondent

Vidyartha College, led by Nilusha Galapitiya, could look forward to a successful cricket season this year as they possess a very strong outfit.

Nilusha Galapitiya a third year player scored over 700 runs last season and this season has scored 350 runs and will open the side's batting.

Tharindu Ranaweera who skippered the side last year too is available this year. A fine off spinner and a reliable middle order bat.

Third year player Ruwan Bandara will open the side's batting and last season he batted consistently to score over 700 runs including a century against Kingswood College. This season he has set his sights in reaching the 1,000 runs in a season, having already scored 525 runs. He is also the stumper of the side. It will be Tillina Rupasena who will lead the spin attack with his off spinners having captured 40 wickets last season. This season he has been among the wickets with 25 wickets. He is also a good late order batsman.

Keshan Gamage scored 450 runs last season and captured 30 wickets. This season he has been among the wickets.

Left arm spinner Chanaka Ratnayake who captured 45 wickets last season could be a major threat to their opponents.

All rounder Samitha Attanayake (40 wkts last season) and Isuru Weerasinghe (30 wkts) will open the attack.

The other players who are expected to shine this season are Kasun Nawaratne, Dasun Nawaratne, Ravindra Dissanayake.

The team is coached by former St. Anthony's College junior Coach Susantha Basnayake who has done a fine job in moulding the cricketers into a fighting outfit. He has done an excellent job in improving the standard of performances of the team. This is his first year with Vidyartha College. In the matches played so far Vidyartha College have scored an out right win and 6 first innings while two matches have ended in draws to remain unbeaten.

They had the distinction of enforcing the follow on to Dharmaraja College for the first time in their history and their openers put on 147 against St. Anthony's College, Kandy in a drawn game.

In Master-in-Charge Jayantha Kumara they have a top motivator who has guided the side to perform well. Deputy Principal Ananda Upatissa is also the Prefect of Games of the school has served Vidyartha's cricket well.

Vidyartha College will come out for the first time this term when they play St. Annes College at Kurunegala on January 1 and 2.