Fine knock of 174 by Shanuka Madushan

Dilwin Mendis - Moratuwa Sports Correspondent

Sixteen year old all-rounder Shanuka Madushan of Moratu Vidyalaya helped his Alma-Mater to remain in the inter-schools division one cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association when he notched up a brilliant 174 runs in their inter school under 19 relegation match with their arch rivals Sri Sumangala College, Panadura and played at Johnian grounds, Panadura.

Vidyalians ammased a mammoth score of 461 for 7 declared and his gallant knock consisted of eighteen fours and three sixes and occupied the create for 197 minutes and facing 246 balls and associated in a sixth wicket partnership of 150 runs with Thilan Kavishka who contributed 81 runs.

He commenced his cricket career at the age of eleven years and his first coach being old Vidyalians Prasanna Dissanayake who moulded their one and only Test, ODI and Twenty20 Cricketer and Spin Wizard Ajantha Mendis.

Shanuka played for under 13 for two years and was the Deputy Skipper in his second year and he walked into the under 15 and played for two years and there too he was the vice captain in his second year.

As an under 15 cricketer he was absorbed to the first eleven cricket pool by Dissanayake in 2012 and in the year 2013 he played in the 2013 cricket season including the Big Match and the Limited Over match against Sumangalians.

He bowls off spin and a fine fielder in any position and in the year 2011 he toured India with the Old Vidyalians under 15 cricket team on an invitation of Gouds Cricket Academy, Hyderabad which was a fine exposure for this up and coming young cricketer.

Prasanna Dissanayake who is coaching his old school for the past seventeen years is quite happy with Shanuka's performances and he appreciates the encouragement given by the newly appointed Principal Mrs Jayalath Menike and Master in Charge Neil Geeganage.