Devans hope to end season on high note

Francis Warnakulasooriya- Pothuhera Special corr

Maliyadeva College - Kurunegala, the pioneer school to play cricket in the North Western Province, is confidently facing this school cricket reason with a good start having one out right win over Balapitiya Rewatha Vidyalaya and four 1st winnings victories over some of the best cricket playing schools in the country.

Devens are proudly preparing to celebrate their 125th anniversary this year while their cricketers are also aiming for a better display to end the season. As a leading national school which shows excellence in both academic and sports activities, Maliyadeva rendered tremendous service to the cricket arena, producing some of the top class cricketers in the country since the Kurunegala school started cricket in 1953 and they were captained by W.M. Nandisena.

The promising Devans who are currently serving the country's cricket include the most outstanding Test bowler in the world last year, left arm off spinner Rangana Herath.

Herath is the main contributor to the national team when it comes to its spin attack and the third Test cap produced by the Maliyadeva College. Earlier, current National Cricket Selection Committee member Eric Upashantha and Ranjith Madurasinghe has represented the country at the international level.

Former Sri Lanka youth players Rajith Amunugama and Olga Herath were also notable performers while Sameera Soysa and Shalika Karunanayake also did well during Sri Lanka's recent youth encounters. Gayan Manishan is included in the team which plays a three-day practice match against the visiting Bangladeshis.

Another promising cricketer Jeevantha Kulathunga is probably the most unfortunate Devan who could not find a place in the national ODI team. Kulathunga played for Sri Lanka during the Hong Kong Sixes and also played for Sri Lanka A.

Janaka Kaluhendiwala, Ajith Balalla, Muditha Pussella, Priyanka de Silva and Damitha Hunukumbura are also some of the Devans who did well in club cricket.

Last season, Devens fared well with two outright wins against St Benedicts College, and Pannipitiya Dharmapala. They entered the quarter-finals of Lemonade School Cricket Tournament in 2012. This year, 5th year coloursman Thineth Manishka leads the Devens side. He is a right arm fast bowler and adds more courage and confident to the team. So far he has captured 12 wickets and scored 150 runs. Fourth year player Rasanjana Jayarathna is the deputy of the side. The allrounder is a right arm off spinner and has captured 22 wickets during this season Minod Bhanuka, wicket keeper of the team has 22 victims for his name so far and the 3rd year player who is a left hander has scored 475 runs. As an extra wicket keeper, Damith Perera offers big support to his team mates. Third year player Chandima Bandara and 2nd year player Naveen Peiris are experienced players and Krishan Wijerathna toured India with Sri Lanka under-17 cricket squad.

Vice captain Rasanjana Jayarathne (Right arm off spinner) leads the spin attack which also comprises Kusal De Silva (Right arm off spinner), Tharuka Rajaguru (Right arm off spinner), Naveen Peiris (Right arm off spinner), Prabhath Keppitipola, U.Kahagalla (Right arm off spinners) add extra strength to the team. The former Maliyadeva skipper Buddika Ellepola has taken over the coaching duties.

He is getting all the assistance from master in charge Shirantha Bandaranayake with his assistant Uduwerella and the Principal G.Thilakarathne. The Maliyadeva Old Boys' Association provides all the financial assistance to develop sports in the school. Having all their services in possession, Maliyadeva will be a tough nut to crack and St. Anne's College plays the annual big match with them, "the Battle of the rocks" on March 8 and 9.