I want to lead the Sri Lankan attack one day - Sohan

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

Sohan Borelessa has been outstanding with the ball in the past few seasons terrorizing batsmen with his left arm spinners.

He holds the rare distinction of being the proud record holder for the best bowling figures in a school game and a first class game.

Boralessa in prime form right now and the selectors should probably offer him with an opportunity to break in to the national squad. He wants to lead the Sri Lankan bowling attack one day and this youngster certainly has potential.

I met up with him and he answered my questions on his cricket life,future plans and his secret to success. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Q You have been consistently performing in the last few seasons, but haven't got a permanent place in the A team even,what are your thoughts?

A In the just concluded inter club season I finished with 48 wickets finishing as the second highest wicket taker of the tournament. In 2010 I took 62 wickets and was awarded a spot in the Sri Lanka A team for when Pakistan-A team toured Sri Lanka sadly I injured myself a day before a match and was out of action I split the webbing between my little finger and ring finger.

Q You probably are the best young left arm spinner we have in the circuit. How do you bowl differently in the three day games, ODIs and T 20s?

A Well to be honest I try to keep my bowling style simple so it suits all three formats. My performances this season speaks for it where I took 11 wickets in the one day tournament with a first class record holding the most economical bowling figures of 10 overs three maidens 7 runs for 3 wickets against Badureliya.

I finished as the second highest wicket taker behind Sachithra Senanayake. I also took 48 wickets in the three day games and 8 wickets in the club t20 tournament.

I go into each game with a approach where I'm keen on taking wickets rather than containing.

Q What sort of variations do you posses?

A My stock ball is the left arm orthodox spin. My variations are an arm ball, a top spinner and my own version of a flipper.

Q You hold the record for the best bowling figures in both school cricket and first class cricket. Talk us through the memories of the school game?

A The school game was when I was playing for St Peters College in 2004, where I took all 10 wickets for 30 runs against Wesley College which was played at home.

The pitch turned out to be a green top where we won the toss put the opponents to bat but we couldn't get the break throughs as planned.

The openers put on 60 runs before I was introduced to the attack just before lunch I took a wicket off the first over caught bat pad closing.

I was getting some turn and was causing trouble from where I kept pegging away having close in fielders and kept the pressure on one by one wickets fell and I managed to grab all 10 I was lucky as at one stage I remember there was missed catch of my fellow off spinners bowling but I guess god has a plan for everything and it turned out to be my day. We went on to win that game and was a turning point in my career of cricket where I started to believe I could reach the top.

Q You also have the distinction of breaking the record for best bowling figures in first class cricket. What happened in that game?

A The club game was against Moors SC when I was representing Colombo Cricket Club in the domestic tournament. I managed to grab 9 wickets for 47. Sujeewa de Silva the former left arm quick took the first wicket there onwards I kept breaking through to get 9 wickets.

I managed to get turn and bounce off the wicket as such the batsman found it tough to score or play defensive shots against me.

Ranagana Herath played the match for for Moors and I remember having a chat to him after the first days play. His advice was for me to be myself, to trust my skills and to work specially not allowing a batsman to settle to my bowling rhythm.

Q What moment do you cherish in your bowling career?

A The perfect ball to me would be "for the ball to drift into the batsman from off stump, drop in the air and spin out beating the batsman and to hit the top of off stump."

Well I cherished bowling for Kandurata in the Domestic Provincial One day tournament where we went on to win the tournament in 2011 and I took 4 wickets for 30 playing alongside.

I took the big wickets of Tillekaratne dilshan, Angelo Mattews, Roshen Silva and Kusal Janith.

Q As a left arm spinner do you always go on the attack or try to be on the defensive sometimes?

A I always try to be a wicket taking bowler of the team and I love to lead a bowling attack and strive to be the best bowler on the park.

There are instances where I have to control the flow of runs while attacking to take wickets but I would definitely start with the intention of getting break throughs for the team.

Q Rangana Herath is the premier left arm spinner while there is intense competition among young spinners. What different things do you offer?

A Its great to have competition as it brings out the best in us. I strive to take wickets which would result in my team winning the match.

I believe me being a left arm spinner brings a different dimension to the game when compared with the other fellow spinners

Q What are your short term and long term goals in cricket?

A I'm working hard these days training to break through to the Sri Lanka A squad. I want to break through and perform at levels which would help me break into the national circuit. My ultimate goal would be to don the prestigious national cap and lead the Sri Lanka bowling attack.

Q Who is your favorite cricketer and why?

A Well when I started my cricket as child I was more of a batsman so I loved the style of Mark Waugh where he brought such easiness to the game of cricket. Since then I've followed the spin trio of Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori I love watching them work out a batsmans weakness and breaks through. I thoroughly enjoyed playing alongside Muttiah Muralitharan in the provincial tournament it definitely was a highlight in my career upto date.

I have huge respect for Ranagan Herath who has been a key performer for sri lanka cricket.

Q Don't you want to improve on your batting as well?

A Well I'm keen on improving all departments of the game. Batting is important and I'm definitely working hard to score big and get valuable runs for the team.

I'm the first guy who would put his hand up when a night watchman option comes into the game.