Royal a talented team

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Royal College, one of the most reputed Under-19 cricket teams in Sri Lanka, has been able to maintain their supremacy this season with victories over De Mazenod College, Kandana and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.

"We have got a well balanced team at the moment with a strong batting line-up. Last year, though they lost to Richmond, we won against Isipatana and three matches were washed away due to rain. The team has got some goals and they are working hard to achieve them. They're doing well at the moment. As the coach, I'm happy about the way the team is performing", says the coach of the team, Neil Rajapakse.

The team is captained by the experienced second year player and left hand top order batsman Imal Liyanage who has succeeded in batting with a total of 265 runs including a half century. He scored his highest individual score in a match against Mahanama College with 98 runs and he has collected 971 in the previous season.

Left arm leg spinner Devin Pathmanadan, who is another senior player in the team, is his deputy. Pathmanadan, who has captured 65 wickets in the last season, bagged six wickets during the recent matches.

First year player Heshan Kumarasiri is another key player in the lineup, having contributed with a great deal in batting. He surpassed the 1000 run mark in the last season and has a total of 229 runs including two half centuries this season. Supun Subasinghe is also a great prospect for them with both bat and ball. The off spinner has also shone with the bat and has scored a century against D.S.Senanayake College and has scored a half century against St.Anthony's College this season.

Wicket keeper and middle order batsman Milan Abeysekara is another talented player, having scored over 200 runs.

The right arm medium pacer Gavrav Deva, the second year player is a vital link in their bowling department, having captured over 25 runs last season and already has 16 wickets in his possession this season. He is probably the best strength to the Royal College bowling attack.

First year coloursman and right arm opening bowler Anjana Kudahetti is the next hope of Royal College under-19 team. He has been able to add plenty of variety to their bowling with his talented performances. Last season, he has got over 20 wickets and got a match bag of 11 wickets against Nalanda on debut. Coach Rajapakse said that he could expect further progress from Gavrav Deva, Imal Liyanage, Heshan Kumarasiri and Devin Pathmanadan. Also he expects the progress from the other players in the team too. The rest of the players in the U-19 First Eleven squad are Sachintha de Silva, Minura Punchihewa, Ronaka Ahangama, Anupa Hettiarachchi, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Gunathilake, Danidu Jayasinghe, Naveen Bandara, Geesath Panditharatne and Aroshana Herath.

The team gets the full supported by the Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekara, academic staff, Old Boys Association, students, parents and well-wishers.