A school which has reached great heights in the field of cricket from Kandy is St. Sylvester’s College. This 79-year-old school has a proud cricketing history. Over the years they have produced fine cricketers who have gone on to represent clubs, district and country with distinction.
According to news, this time they are fielding a well balanced side with a formidable batting lineup and penetrative bowling attack this inter school cricket season are all out to display their great team spirit despite limited facilities. The St. Sylvester’s cricket team is a hard unit to beat, not least for their fighting qualities.
A school which took up the game the hard way, after it was founded in 1940, after 15 years made a modest beginning by introducing cricket to their sports calander in 1955. The first school team was coached by J. Denlow and Ronni Stephen and the side was led by T. Direckze. M.E. Marikar became the first Sylvestrian to play representative cricket. Ishak Sahabdeen was the first Test player.
They were to open the season with a traditional game against Isipathana College at the BRC grounds last week, which had to be put off due to wet weather. The rest of the fixtures are (Tournament) October 10-11 Nalanda Colege in Colombo, 30-31 Maliyadeva College in Kurunegala, November 7-8 Thurstan College at Pallekelle, 2020 January 8-9 Mahanama Colege at Welagedera Stadium, 16-17 Devapathiraja College at Sooriyawewa, 22-23 St. Anthony’s College, Wattala at Welagedera, 29-30 St Servatius College at Welagedera Stadium, February 3-4 Gurukula MV at Gurukula, (Traditional) October 17-18 Maris Stella College, Negombo at Wikramabahu gorunds, January 2020 2-3 De Mazenod College at Wattala, February 6-7 Kingswood College at Pallekelle, 9-10 St. Thomas College Matara in Galle, 22-23 St. Annes College at Kurunegala, 27-28 St. Joseph’s College at Welagedera satadium. The date for the big match and one-day encounter with Vidyartha College date is still to be fixed.
Judging by their present strength they should do well, but their drawback is the lack of practices as they do not have a proper place for it. This season Sylvestrians will be led by J.A. Chandula Jayakody, a fourth year player who did good with the bat last season. He is also the stumper. Last season he scored 430 runs with a top score of 131 against Devapathiraja College, Rathgama.
The others who should do well are Kasun Endirithilake, a fine right arm off spinner and bats right hand is a hard hitter, Mohommad Reeza a fine stroke maker and also a wicket keeper, Charith Rajaguru, a good strokemaker and also a right arm pace bowler, Navod Rodrigo, a capable right arm off spinner and a left hand batsmen, Abhishek Kumar, a knowledgable right arm off spinner and a left hand bat, Irosha Rathnayake, a technically correct right hand bat, Pahan Waduge, a right arm medium pace bowler and also a dependable right hand batsman, Dilanka Tharusha, a right arm leg spin bowler and right hand batsmen, Sohan Obesekara, a hard hitting right hand batsman, Naveen Bandara, a right arm medium pace bowler and right hand batsman, Hashan Rathnayake, right arm medium pace bowler and also right hand batman, Nishantha Indrajith a right hand fast bowler and left hand batsman who made an unbeaten 49 in the big match last season, Isuru Umayanga, a left hand orthodox bowler who bats right hand, Maleesha Silva, a left hand batsman and a left arm orthodox bowler, Sadeepa Halangoda a steady right hand batsmen, Pasindu Jayakodi, right arm off spinner and left hand batsman, Shashika Basnayake left arm orthodox bowler and right hand batsman, Nimsha Wijesinghe, a right hand bat can also keep, Pasindu Viranga, right arm off spin bowler and a left hand batsmen, Vidudara Munasinghe, a right hand stroke maker, Sathsara Navod, a left am orthodox bowler and left hand batsman, Kavishka Dilshan, right arm leg spin bowler and batsman, Mikdhad Mohomad, a fast bowler and batsman, Abdul Rahuman, a right arm fast bowler, who is good in batting too, Akila Wickramsinghe a left arm orthodox bowler who bats right hand, Prageeth Hansamal, a right arm fast bowler and a good bat.
The side is coached by H.K.S. Gunawardene for the second time. He is doing his best with limited support. The MIC is Champila Wijetunge. The Principal P.G.S. Bandara gives his support in whatever way he can. They are hoping to play most of their home games at the Pallekelle stadium. Anything is possible, they have a good team and have a great bunch of guys who are keen cricketers, who will fight to the end and never give up. Players’ parents also give encouragement.
This school has continued to produce good cricketers even without a proper playing field. They have a pint size ground at Asgiriya with a matting wicket. They practice at a grassless ground and hire a ground at Gampola to practice on turf. They also do little bit of turf practice at the side wicket at Pallekelle Stadium. They have to play matches on turf wickets but they don’t have even a side turf wicket. The Central Province Cricket Association thanks to Janaka Pathirane has donated rupees one million to come out with a turf wicket, still nothing has happened.
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