Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda is a leading school in the southern region of Sri Lanka to play top level cricket. With many youngsters in their camp, the cricketers of Devananda participate in the game with great passion in order to gain promotion to the top division in school cricket. Their impressive record earned Devananda the award for the best team from the southern region, while their present vice captain Risika Theekshana even won the runners-up award for the best fielder in the emerging schools’ category.
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| Devananda cricket squad. (Pix by Amila Prabodha) |
This year, the Devananda cricket team has retained the services of eight senior players. These players have experience of two seasons or more. Their prime aim this season is to be promoted to Division I. Presently they are in Division II. Unlike last year where Devananda had a strong batting line up, this season they have a well balanced side.
Their bowling department is much stronger then last year. However their batting has still not lost any of its glamour. Devananda’s fielding could be rated at the top level. All the aspects of the game are in mint condition in spite of not having a ground of their own. Their only strength which helped Devananda to gain five wins in twelve games last season is the support they got from their past cricketers, past pupils, parents and the people in the area. These people have pushed to their limits in order to help the century old school.
Their great form in the past continues to linger this season as well. So far in four games Devananda has won three – against Kegalu Vidyalaya, St. Anne’s Kurunegala and Sri Sumangala Panadura. This indicates their sheer willpower to climb the ladder of success.
“Three wins in four games in the third term gives us great boost for the remainder of the season. Out of the three wins, two are traditional fixtures while one was a tournament game. The side is young but strong, and they are likely to get better with exposure. We lost three players from last year and the same side, except for the skipper, can play for two years more,” said the coach, Suraj Sanjeewa.
Sanjeewa completes his tenth year as the coach. This year the side is led by fourth year player Lakshitha Sirimanne, who is a versatile all-rounder. His deputy Theekshana is the stumper of the side. Left-hander Akila Udesh and right-hander Ishara Udayanga open the batting for Devananda. This duo has the capacity of building strong partnerships at given times. Right-hander Imesh Udayanga is another stylish stroke-maker and so is left hander and deputy skipper Theekshana. Both openers Akila and Ishara are average performers and have been among runs while Imesh and Theekshana are the star batsmen of Devananda apart from skipper Sirimanne who follows next in batting. He is also a left-hander. Others to follow are Yohan de Silva, Chalith Sudaraka, Lahiru Prasanka and Sakun Kanchana. The team has two openings for freshers. They will fill the slots according to their opponents and venues.
The bowling department, according to coach Sanjeewa, has improved to be much stronger than in recent years both in pace and spin. Skipper Sirimanne who bowls right-arm fast, opens the pace attack well supported by Imesh Udayanga. Devananda has a strong right-handed fast bowling unit with the inclusion of Mahesh Sanjeewa and Chilan Anjana. The side has four spinners - two leggies and two offies, making Devananda a well balanced bowling attack. Charith Sudaraka is a left-arm leg-spinner while Sithara Madushanka is a right-arm leg-spinner and the two off-spinners are Sakun Kanchana and Lahiru Prasanka. The team is skilled and they hope to make a great impact this season with their combined power in all departments.
Devananda cricket squad: Lakshitha Sirimanne (Captain), Risika Theekshana (Vice Captain), Charith Sudaraka, Imesh Udayanga, Ishara Udayanga, Sithira Madushanka, Gihan Madushanka, Akila Udesh Kumara, Sakun Kanchana, Mahesh Sanjeewa, Chilan Anjana, Yohan de Silva, Hirantha Fonseka, Ranush Kanchana, Dinuka de Silva, Lahiru Prasanka, Suraj Sanjeewa (Coach), Ratnasiri Batuwangala |
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