All 36 division one teams have been up and running in the current U19 schools’ cricket season over the past few weeks. Completing our three-part segment on identifying the leaders of their respective schools, we present the final 12 captains.
Mishen Silva – St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa
The joint defending champions, St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa will be led by 18-year old hard-hitting all-rounder, Mishen Silva. Playing his 3rd year, Silva has played four youth ODIs for Sri Lanka U19s in the last couple of months. In his first season, he scored nearly 400 runs and took 15 wickets under Visal Senanayake. Last season under Avishka Fernando, Silva hammered more than 800 runs with a couple of breathtaking centuries.
Damitha Silva – Maliyadeva College Kurunegala
18-year old left-arm spinning all-rounder, Damitha Silva has plenty of experience having represented Sri Lanka U19s in the last 18 months. He took 28 wickets scored 277 runs in the SLC Super 19 Provincial Tournament 2016 in which he was adjudged ‘Player of the Tournament’ after leading his team, North Western Province to championship glory. He has also played U23 cricket for Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club. He has already played four big matches against traditional rivals St. Anne’s Kurunegala, taking 22 wickets in total, which is the highest by any Maliyadeva College player in the history of the ‘Battle of the Rocks’ series.
Malindu Maduranga – Mahanama College
The 18-year old right-handed middle order batsman, playing his third season, is an exemplary leader on and off the field. Third year coloursman, Maduranga is the wicket-keeper of the side even though he did not keep wickets last season. Under Thanula Wickramasinghe’s leadership last season, Maduranga slammed more than 600 runs becoming the top run-getter for Mahanama College.
Kasun Abeyrathne – Thurstan College
Right-handed top-order batsman, Kasun Abeyrathne came into the spotlight earlier this year when he slammed a terrific 147 in Thurstan’s annual big-match encounter against Isipathana College at SSC grounds. Playing his fourth year in the 1st XI, Abeyrathne started his career as a wicket-keeper but has given up keeping duties to concentrate more on his batting. A lot will depend on Abeyrathne’s captaincy skills this season and his experience of playing U23 cricket for Old Thurstanites SC will come in handy for the Thurstan-ites.
Dasun Senevirathne – Nalanda College
He captained Nalanda College in the 2015/16 season as well and has been given the leadership role for yet another season, the first player from the current crop of players to captain his College 1st XI team for two seasons consecutively. The right-handed top order batsman and right-arm medium fast-bowler led North Central Province in the SLC Super 19 Provincial Tournament 2016. Senevirathne scored more than 500 runs in the last schools’ season and is a vastly experienced campaigner in the schools’ circuit.
Krishan Sanjula – De Mazenod College, Kandana
Right-handed top-order batsman, Krishan Sanjula has been bestowed with the responsibility of leading the De Mazenod outfit this season. He scored close to 900 runs last season and this will be his fifth year playing 1st XI cricket. With the added responsibility, Sanjula will not be keeping wickets this time around even though he was the first choice wicket-keeper batsman for SSC in the U23 division 1 tournament.
Torin Pitigala – DS Senanayake College
The 19-year old fast-bowling all-rounder will be playing his 4th year for DS Senanayake College this season. He will be missing the first-half of the season due to an ankle injury but is expected to be fit in time for the action in early 2017. Pitigala struck more than 400 runs with three half-centuries last season. In Pitigala’s absence, left-handed stroke-maker, Shehzaad Ameen has stepped in to fill the captaincy shoes.
Manujaya Kavinda – St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy
He first represented the first XI team at the age of 14 and will be playing his 5th season for St. Sylvester’s College this year. He is the team’s opening fast-bowler who can deliver the ball at decent pace and is a capable middle-order batsman. He has played for Central Province in the U15 and U17 age categories while gaining experience representing Kandy Youth CC in the SLC U23 competition.
Sineth Isuru – Moratu Vidyalaya
Right-handed batsman, Sineth Isuru will be leading the inexperienced Moratu Vidyalians this season. He was the vice-captain last season and made a cracking 59 in the 64th Battle of the Golds between Moratu Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala College. Known to be a solid cricketer with a top-notch cricketing brain, Isuru will need to give his best this season if his team are to do well.
Sankha Lahiru – St. Anthony’s College, Wattala
17-year old right-handed fast-bowling all-rounder, Sankha Lahiru managed to score 420 runs and capture more than 25 wickets last season. He has prior leadership experience captaining the U17 outfit as well as representing Western Province North Outer in the Prima U15 Champions Cup. This season will be his 2nd first XI season and he will be eligible to play 2017/18 season as well.
Kanishka Jayasundara – Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya
Leading a depleted Dharmapala College outfit, 4th year player Kanishka Jayasundara will need a lot to change their fortunes this season after losing 5 games outright already. A right-handed top-order batsman and a right-arm leg-spinner, Jayasundara could not make much of a difference last season under Himasha Liyanage.
Sahan Ishara – Anuradhapura Central College
A fast-bowling all-rounder playing his 3rd year, Sahan Ishara will have a big task to keep his school in the top division this season. He scored 88 and 52 respectively against Zahira College and St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennapuwa last season. Ishara is a versatile fielder at any position and has led his school team in the U13 and U15 age-categories as well.
