ALOYSIANS out for a better display

Thushan Jayasuriya

St. Aloysius College, a side studded with freshers will be hoping to give a fine display this season. Recently, they came up with a superb display to obtain first innings points over formidable Nalanda College and Lumbini Maha Vidyalaya in the current under 19 inter schools cricket tournament and forced a draw in the matches against formidable St.Peter’s Bambalapitiya, St.Sebastian’s Moratuwa and Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa

In 2009 the lads from Galle had one of their best seasons with seven outright victories over Revata MMV Balapitiya, St. Sylvester’s College Kandy, De Mazenod College Kandana, St. Thomas’ College Matara, St. Servatius College, Kalutara MV and Isipatana College.

This was a tremendous performance from the Aloysians who are still hampered without a turf wicket of their own for practices and lack of a ground to play their home matches during the season.

Despite having to face many setbacks, St. Aloysius College has also produced a number of outstanding cricketers in the recent past including former captain Chaturanga de Silva, Malith Cooray and Nuwan Shiroman who in fact was the Schoolboy Cricketer Outstation a few years ago and scored 1000 runs that season.

But since last year they have lost a few of their key players and now once again they are up against it and are hoping to build up the team with a completely new-look side.

The team is captained by opening batsman Ruchika Sandakelum , the most experienced player in the side who has scored 250 runs this season. This stylish right hander batsman took part in the Inter-Provincial tournament recently. His deputy will be third year player Nilupul Bimsara , a fine left arm leg spinner who has bagged 13 wickets during the current season with a three wicket haul against St.Sebastians College Moratuwa as the best. Third year player Dilruk Ashan, a promising batsman also have a special place in the squad having totalled 200 run mark this season. He made his intentions clear with two half centuries against Trinity and Lumbini.

The new ball will be shared with Rashmika Dhananjaya and Yasiru Tharaka Gunawardena.The spin attack will be spearheaded by Ashan Madusanka who plays his second year. Recently, he bagged a five wicket haul against Nalanda College Colombo. He will be backed by Nilupul Bimsara, Avish Janitha Nilanduwa and Dilruk Hashan.

The lads from Galle will be coached by former Mahindian Harsha Munasinghe who was coaching his Alma mater earlier and has taken the role of coaching the Aloysius. He will be assisted by Sachitra Lakmal.They are getting all the all the encourgement from Master-In-Charges Nirosh Suranjith and S.Jagath Semasinghe.

The St.Aloysius College under 19 first squad

Ruchika Sandakelum(Captain), Nilupul Bimsara(Vice Captain), Harish Janitha, Pramodh Chathuranga, Hashan Chanaka, Dilruk Hashan, Yasiru Tharaka, Sachin Jayaraj, Rashmika Dananjaya, Ashith Jayasooriya, Ashan Madushanka, Ashen Bandara, Gihan Niroshan, Navindu Nirmal, Kavitha Liyanage. Supun Randika, Akila Gimhana.

Coach : Harsha Munasinghe
Asst.Coach : Sachitra Lakmal
Master-In-Charges: Nirosh Suranjith and S.Jagath Semasinghe