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Speed Merchants Clinic
Lakmal hot and fast
By Bernie Wijesekera
Madura Lakmal from Kalutara Vidyalaya returned a fearsome speed of 138.7 kmh to be adjudged the fastest bowler at the Speed Merchants Clinic concluded at the SSC Grounds yesterday. Earlier Lakmal clocked 138 kmh.
Before that Manoj Chanaka, from Royal College Panadura clocked 138.5 kmh in the first round, but Madura Lakmal kept on improving his speed amidst the sweltering heat to earn a one-year sponsorship package from the Sri Lanka Foundation’s CEO Nihal Kodituwakku.

Former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga was the chief guest at this clinic which featured a host of up and coming merchants. It was a concept of former Sri Lanka fast bowler and national fast bowling Coach Champaka Ramanayake.

Speaking on the occasion Arjuna Ranatunga said that a clinic of this nature was a long felt need and praised the concept. It was meant to catch ‘em young at district level. In the first round, over 1000 came in for scrutiny staged at the Dambulla Stadium, Badulla, Kandy, Moratuwa, Kandana (De Mazenod), Panadura and at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

According to Ramanayake 60 bowlers were picked for the second round which took place yesterday. From them the final ten was picked to undergo training at the Cricket Academy handled by Jerome Jayaratne.

Quite a number of lively tear-away young prospects emerged. Among them Manoj Chanaka from Royal Panadura was the showpiece. He clocked 136.8 km. He turns out for the Chilaw Marians in club cricket.

Close on his heels was Madura Lakmal 136.2 kmh also from Panadura. Next best was D. Liyanage - 136 kmh. Nihal Kodituwakku, CEO, Cricket Foundation was an observer. It’s a meaningful concept by the SLC to harness and mould budding pace bowlers to answer the needs at national level.

The final ten: Madura Lakmal (Western Province South Outer) 138.7; Manoj Chanaka (Western Province City) 138; Dhakshina Liyanage (Western Province South Outer) 136.5; W.L. Manoj (Central Province) 135.8; Romesh Kaluarachchi (North Central Province) 134.2; Shaminda Eranga (Western Province North Outer) 133.2; L.A.S. Vishvaranga (Western Province City) 133.2; Amila Prasad (Southern Province) 131.9; Kanishka Elvitigala (Southern Province) 131.7; Dinesh Dharsnapriya (Western Province) 131.

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