Kingswood capable of creating a few upsets

S M Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Though fielding a very young side, Kingswood College are capable of springing a few surprises this season. This stems from the fact that the team suddenly

performs well which could well upset their opponents.

Take the case of their match against St Thomas’ College, Matale which was a tournament match.

The Matale Thomians made 143 and the Kingswoodians were overnight 98 for 5 and a helicopter landed on the field on the second day morning and play could not be resumed till 1.20 pm and the most one expected was a first innings decision. Kingswoodians first huffed and puffed to gain a 3 run first innings lead. The Thomian second innings started only at 3.15 pm.

But the Kingswoodians did the impossible with their 15 year old off spinner Tharindu liyanage opening the attack took 6 for 23 to rout the Thomians for 43. The Kingswoodians won by 8 wickets with 10 overs to spare. Tharindu Liyanage had a match haul of 10 for 78.

The coach of Kingswood College former Kandy Youths cricketer Harshana Gamage said that they have the practice nets but do not have wicket practices by which running between the wickets, placing of shots, ground fielding could be improved.

Their grounds is under repairs and they are not be able to play cricket there as it is likely that it will be converted to a rugby grounds. The practice nets could help only in the improvement of the individual skills and this too will be limited.

He said that under the circumstances, it is difficult to build up a competitive side which could perform well in large grounds. This has to be understood.

The team is young and inexperienced and they have very little match exposure.

There are no big names in this Kingswood side and they will be led by third year player Kasun Bandara, who is a right hand bat having scored 350 runs last season and also took 21 wickets with his medium pacers.

Kasun Bandara (Captain)

Shalutha Walisundera (Vice Captain)

A big responsibility lies in his shoulders to guide this Kingswood team to success.

The vice captain of the side is fourth year allrounder Shalutha Walisundera who was the vice captain last year too but had pull out of the side after playing two matches following a shoulder injury.

A right hand bat and a good off spinner from whom much is expected. Second year player Supun Bandara had a fairly good season last year scoring over 350 runs and had moderate success with his off spinners.

But the most promising player of the side is 15 year old allrounder Tharindu Liayange, a very good off spinner who took 49 wickets last season and was also adjudged the ‘Man of the Tournament’ in the under 15 Yasaratne Trophy Cricket tournament conducted by the Central Province Cricket Association late last year.

He is also a reliable batsman. Third year player Madhusha Jayawickrema is a fair bat and will be entrusted with the new ball with left arm medium pacer Dilshan Edirisinghe.

Left arm spinner Menaka Lankatillake and Randika Wijeratne who bowls off spinners should also do well. Wijeratne last season scored 250 runs.

The others who will make up the team are Asanka Bandara, Sharaka Panabokke, Champika Aluwihare, Shanika Weerasinghe, Ranindu Madhuranga and Dulanjan Themiya.

Dulanjan Themiya will stand behind the stumps.Captain Sunil Herath is once again the Master in Charge – a very stern disciplinarian and a good motivator.