De Mazenod, a team full of young talent

Thushan JAYASURIYA

De Mazenod College Kandana will hope to remain on the top of the school cricket arena depending on the achievements gained this season. They are in a some sort of satisfactory position having acquired four outright wins and three first innings wins.

Captain De Mazenod College under-19 team Jude Madushan.

Third year player and left arm player Shaluka Deemantha is a valuable player in the Mazenod's under 19 squad having bagged a total of 65 wickets in 12. Apart from that he took a match-bag of 10 wickets against Holy Cross Kalutara (first innings 6 for 53 and second innings 4 for 37) with six five wicket hauls against S.Thomas', Holy Cross, Gurukula, Kalutara MV, Marisstella and Balapitiya Revatha Colleges. In batting he has shown succeeded with 200 runs including a highest individual score of 47 runs against St.Sebastians College Moratuwa.

Senior player and all rounder Jude Madhushanka is the captain of the side.

In batting he has excelled with 425 runs with highest score of 85 runs against Holy Cross College Kalutara.

He hammered 80 runs against Revatha MV Balapitiya. In bowling, he has scored a total of 23 wickets in 11 matches. This is his fifth year being in the under 19 first XI squad.

Second year coloursman and left arm spinner Lahiru Wickramasinghe is a vital player in the Mazenod's under-19 squad having captured a total of 35 wickets with a best effort of five for 44 against St. Joseph's College. Also he has bagged three four wicket hauls against Marisstella Negombo (4 for 41), Gurukula (4 for 44) and St.Aloysius Galle (4 for 32). But he has been more effective with bat and has scored over 300 runs to his credit with his highest individual score against Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya(48).

Kavinda Manamperi, fresher and all rounder has been able to add some plenty of variety into their batting and bowling departments having scored a total of 334 runs in 12 matches with his best individual score against Holy Cross, Kalutara (65) while he has claimed 25 wickets including a best performance of six wickets for 26 against Holy Cross, Kalutara. Third year player and wicket keeper Supun Sanjaya is another key player in the line up having claimed 28 victims for the season. Not only in wicket keeping but also he has proven himself in batting by scoring a total of 319 runs for the season with a half century against St.Peter's (54).

The under 19 First XI squad of De Mazenod College (Standing from left) Duleepa Akash, Shanil Perera, Romariyo Soysa, Kavinda Manamperi, Lahiru Wickramasinghe, Ishara Perera, Shaluka Deemantha, Malshan Fernando, Supun Sanjaya, Nadeesha Silva. (Seated from left) Jude Madushanka (Captain), Sanjeewa Mendis (Head Coach), Malik Keerthi (Master-In-Charge), Amal Fernando, Sriyan Anuruddhika (Vice Captain) Pictures by Ranjith Asanka.

The Coach of the team, Sanjeewa Mendis says "Our team is one of the successful school cricket teams in Sri Lanka. Most of the players are young players and they have the time to develop their talents.

According to my view, still we remain unbeaten in the under 19 school cricket arena. The Captain Jude Madushan leads the team very well and others players also supporting their team with their instinct talents and superb performances."

The team gets the fullest support from the principal Bro. Bertram Perera, Prefect of Games Upali Silva, Malik Keerthi (Master-In-Charge under 19 cricket), Sanjeewa Mendis (Head Coach), Amal Fernando (Junior Team Coach), Joe Saverymuththapulle(Coach of the Cricket Academy) and parents.