Renowned commentator Ranil no more

Former Thomian, SSC and Sri Lanka cricketer, coach and well known cricket commentator Ranil Abeynaike passed away yesterday after a brief illness.

He was 57 years at the time of his death. A fine middle order batsman and a left arm leg spinner, he turned out for S Thomas' from 1971 to 1973. He captained the school in 1973 and led them to many victories. He established the school's bowling record that year by capturing 93 wickets.

After leaving school he joined the Singhalese Sports Club during which he blossomed out as a fine middle order batsman and tuned out for the club till early 1980s'. He had the honour of representing Sri Lanka against Tony Greig's visiting England cricket team in 1977.

After giving up playing cricket he took to coaching and coached his Alma Mater successfully from 2002 to 2007 during which the Thominas won the big match twice in 2005 and 2007. He started giving commentaries at the Royal-Thomian match in the 1990s' and became a renown international commentator during the last decade where he gave commentaries on Test matches and ODI's in which Srt Lanka was involved and the last year's cricket World Cup. He was the son of former sub warden of S Thomas' and Thomian cricketer Orville Abeynaike who represented the Mount Lavinia school in 1941.