St. Benedict’s College are tipped to finish in a mid-table spot as the team from Kotahena look to improve on past performances.
A Bit of history
With an illustrious history of over 150 years, St. Benedict’s College possess the honours of being one of the oldest schools in Sri Lanka. They have been playing cricket for more than 100 years. In the last century, they had produced some outstanding players in the calibre of Ranjith Fernando, Ranjan Goonethilaka and Sunil Fernando, to name a few. However their last taste of all-island championship glory way back in the year 1964.
The Benedictines have also produced a fine all-rounder in Pradeep Hewage, who captained the Sri Lanka under19 team in the Youth World Cup in South Africa in 1998. Recently, St. Benedict’s College have shown tremendous improvement in the field of cricket. In 2013 under the leadership of all-rounder Angelo Rathnasinghe they bagged runners-up honours in the limited-overs tournament while in 2014 they bagged the all-island T20 championship under left-hander Mahela Jayalath’s leadership.
Key players
Left handed opening batsman Dinitha Basnayake a 3rd year colours-man is one of the focal points in the Benedictian batting line up. Having scored 254 runs in the 9 games this season thus far, there’s no doubt the experienced top order batsman has to fire in all cylinders if St. Benedict’s are to upset the apple-kart as far as this season is concerned.
Yet another stroke-maker comes in the shape of left handed batsman Dilan Perera a 2nd year player, who has amassed 299 runs in the 9 games for the Kotahena lads. The standout performance of this season being against heavyweights Mahinda College, Galle, as Dilan managed to bag his maiden century of the season.
Photo Album: St. Benedict’s College Cricket Team Preview 2016/17
Kaveeshan Jayathilake spearheads the bowling line up for the Benedict’s lads as the right hand off spinner has bagged 41 scalps thus far inclusive of three five-wicket hauls. The games against Lumbini, Zahira and Isipathana have proved to be the stepping stone in the young man’s career as his impressive showing paved the way for his team in gaining honours.
Coaching Staff
Former Anthonians SC and Bloomfield C & AC off-spinner, a man who was at the helm at Army SC Sanjaya Dissanayake will continue as the head coach of the Kotahena outfit while Dilrukshan Fabian will be the assistant coach.
Final Say
The team from Kotahena has managed 2 outright wins and 4 first innings wins this season as they push fellow schools for a top of the table finish.
St. Benedict’s squad
Dinitha Basnayake ( C ), Dilan Perera, Chalana Sankalpa, Shehan Fernando, Ashane Silva, Nisalka Fernando, Reshan Kavishka, Maleesha Senevirathne, Chamindu Wijesinghe, Dulantha Lewis, Maheesh Theekshana, Prithvi Jegarajasingham, Imesh Fernando, Kaveesha Jayathilake, Nirosh Arshana, Vihanga Ruwanara.
