Gurukula Vidyalaya – a vastly improved side

Dilwin Mendis Moratuwa Sports Correspondent

Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya is famous for Drama and has produced many artistes to our society and the Queen of Sinhala Cinema Mrs Malini Fonseka presently a Member of Parliament. They have come up in cricket too in the recent past. They commenced playing cricket in 1980.

So far they have played ten games and registered six outright victories. They are Piliyandala Central, Carey, Bandaranayake, Revatha and Raddoluwa MV and formidable Maris Stella and lost to Zahira and St. Sebastians and drew with S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia, St. Joseph's and Moratu Vidyalaya and Holy Cross, Aloysius, De Mazoned and Lumbini are yet to play.

Fourth year coloursman and opening bowler Roshan Anuruddha is the captain and a good all-rounder. Out of ten matches so far played he has taken 48 wickets and passed the 400 run mark and also a member of the Sri Lanka schools under 19 cricket pool.

His deputy is Nalin Perera who bats right hand and bowls medium pace a right arm bowler. He has taken 39 wickets and passed 400 runs. He has played in nine matches and taken 43 wickets. Namal Pathum is an all-rounder and a safe fielder at any position.

Played in nine matches and has 33 scalps under his belt. Hashan Duminda is an all-rounder and the highest run getter of the team with 603 runs and taken 43 wickets. He scored two centuries against St. Joseph's, Colombo and Raddoluwa MV and a half century.

There 24th Big Match with their arch rivals Dharmaloka Vidyalaya, Kelaniya will be played on March 23 and 24 at R. Premadasa Stadium and the 20th one dayer too will be played at the same venue on March 31, 2012. All these big matches have ended in tame draws while out of 19 limited over matches Dharmaloka is leading with eleven and Gurukula eight and one ended in a no decision.

The senior coach Lal Senarathna told the Daily News Sports that he can rely on the team this year and he hopes that his players will bear fruit in both the encounters.

Further he added that the Principal Anil Geethal Abeygunawardene is extending his fullest support to uplift the standard of cricket and the Old Boys Association which is the live wire behind cricket is helping in may aspects keep the game live at Gurukula also he thanked the parents for their help and assistance.” His deputy will be Rasitha Dinesh.