Cambrians - a formidable side

Dilwin MENDIS- Moratuwa Sports Correspondent

Prince of Wales’ College skuipper Tarindu Dilshan

Prince of Wales' College which was founded before by the great philanthropist Charles Henry de Soysa in 1876 and in the same year under his guidance cricket was introduced and members of the staff played cricket and in 1896 the organized school cricket was stared and they played their first match with Royal College, Colombo.

Suranga Wijenayake who is a past captain of the College and the new cricket coach told the Daily News Sports that "there are seventeen matches on the card with the Big Match on 9th and 10th March and followed by the one dayer. His main ambition is to bring the pst glory to his Alma-Mater and he is much concerned of the Big Match which is the most popular social even of the cricket crazy Moratuwites."

So far they have played Twelve matches and won against Dharmasoka and two formidable sides St Peters and Ananda and lost to D S Senanayake, Richmond and St Thomas, Mt Lavinia. They won first innings against Dharmapala and lost on first innings to Mahinda, Thurstan, Wesley and St Anthony's and the math versus Nalanda was washed away.

Leading of Cambrians this year is third year coloursman and allrounder Tarindu Dilshan who bats right hand and a left arm off spinner who bowls occasionally. He has passed the 400 mark with a solid knock of 61 runs being the highest. His deputy will be Hashan Fernando who opens the attack and a third year player. He bowls right arm and bats right hand. He shares the new ball with Sachith Pushpakumara who is a fresher. Gayan Chamara, Shenal Chetaka, Chamika Sansaka are also medium pace bowlers who are trying for palces.

Former Sri Lanka Schools under 15 skipper and second year player Kusal Mensi is the opening batsman and he keep wickets too. In his absence fresher Crishen Aponso is the goloveman. Kusal has passed the 800 mark with two centuries against with an unbeaten 153 runs versus Dharmapala and 112 against St Anthony's. He opens batting with Ashen Mendis who is a second year player and bats right hand. He has three fifties under his belt with 450 runs highest sure being 77 agianst Dharmasoka.

Suchira Fernando who is a fresher and last year's under 15 captain comes at number three and when required he opens batting with Kusal. He has passed 450 runs with 68 runs against Richmond being the highest score. Shanuka Dulaj who is a left hand bat and bowls left arm leg spin is a second year player also he has passed the 450 mark with three fifties and highest score being 81 against St Peters and taken 45 wickets with four five wicket hauls with the best figures of 5 for 61 a gainst Mahinda.

Prince of Wales College 1st XI cricket pool – 2011/2012: (Standing from left): Shanuka Dulaj, Sachin Silva, Suchira Fernando, Chamika Sansaka, Gayan Chamara, Tarindu Dilshan (capt), Hashan Fernando (V capt), Ashen Mendis, Crishen Aponso, Jayanga Peiris, Kusal Mendis, (squating from left): Sachith Pushpakumara, Didulana Mendis, Shenal Chetaka, Devaka Dabare, Thilan Nimesh. Pictures by Dilwin Mendis

Left arm leg spinner Thilina Nimesh is a fresher who has taken 51 scalps with two five wickets hauls and best being 6 for 37 versus St Thomas. Jayanga Peiris who is a fresher bowls right arm off spin and taken 40 wickets with 6 for 38 being the best against Richmond. Devaka Dabare too a fresher and an allrounder and he has taken 23 wickets and 4 for 43 is the best against Thurstan. Didulana Medis who scored well for the second eleven was promoted to first eleven and his debut he scored 55 runs versus Wesley and he bats right hand.

Susantha Mendis who is the prefect of games as well as the Master in charge for cricket and Rugger is selected as the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Association recently for further two years. Now he is relieved by Akila Bandara Rajapakse who came on transfer to school and took over as the Master in charge. Bandara who is a cricket lover told the Daily News Sports that he believes cricket is a gentlemen's game never mind win or loose but always must maintained high discipline and sportsmanship on and off the field. It's a great coincide that the assistant coach Nalinda Dissanayake was the Vice Captain to Suranga Wijenayake in 1996.

The newly appointed Principal W D Jayasena is not a stranger to school as he was a deputy principal to late H L B Gomes during he was at the helm and he is extending his support at all times along with the old boys and the pa