Pandula leads Matale under 15 team for Prima tourney

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, - Kandy Sports Corr

Pandula Udupihilla of St Thomas College, Matale, has been selected to captain The Matale District under 15 cricket team for the Prima inter-district under 15 limited over championship for the North Central Province which is due to be played at Matale from December 4 to 6.

This championship for the North Central Province will involve the districts of Matale, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. Matches will be played at St Thomas College grounds and Bernard Aluvihare Stadium, Matale.

The opening ceremony will be on December 4th at St Thomas College grounds Matale which will be graced by the Deputy Minister for Transport Rohana Dissanayake who is also the President of the Matale District Cricket Association as the chief guest. It must recalled that Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake who was a fine sportsman during his days has done a lot to improve sports in the Matale area and is also exploring possibilities of constructing a cricket stadium and rugby grounds for Matale.

Pandula Udupihilla is an attacking left hand batsman and a right arm leg spinner and also captained its under 15 cricket team. He also played for the North Central Province cricket team last year in the inter provincial under 15 cricket tournament.

The selectors have included into the team a young cricketer from Kaikawela Central College in Vikum Shehan and this school is in the foothills of Meemure and Laggala which is an indication that junior cricket has spread to the interior areas and augurs well for the future of the game.

The full squad is:

Pandula Udupihila (St Thomas College) captain, Supun Aravindu, Sajith de Silva, Lasitha Kadawathagedera (all form St Thomas College), Nadun Chathranga Vice Captain), Kavisha Weerasinghe, Chulantha Wimalasinghe, (all from Vijaya College), Kasun Nirmala, Prageeth Niroshan, Thivanka Nipun, Lakshan Kaludeera, Lakmal Fernando, Udara Kumuregedera (all from Christ Church College), Waruna Dissanayake (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Model School), Mohamed Omar (Royal International School), Vikum Shehan (Kaikawela Central), Sudesh Vidushan (Akurambeda Central), Saman Senanayake (District coach), Charaka Udupihilla (Manager).