Joseph Vaz keen to be productive
View(s):has been quite a while since Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa made their entry to the Division I segment of the school cricket arena. 
Despite producing few players to the Sri Lanka Under-19 stream, cricket still is a less-attractive sport at Joseph Vaz who takes pride in being the only school from the area to play in the top segment. The support they receive to complete a season is surprisingly at a dismal level but the players, team officials, old boys of the school and to a certain extent the school officials too, pocket out the possible way to keep the momentum going.
Kasun Vidura (Capt)
Coming from as far as nearly 50 kilometres north from the country’s capital, Colombo, Joseph Vaz experiences both aspects of the sport when it comes to conducting games. Being the only school to play in the top segment, Joseph Vaz may have to travel all the way towards Colombo or play on matting wickets at the only available venue, the Albert Peiris Stadium in Wennappuwa. Either way they are burdened to meet all costs be it venue hosting or travelling.
Unlike other schools that play in the segment, Joseph Vaz has very little to be contented of and the only relief that was left during the recent years is the news that they remain in the top segment. Even to achieve or maintain that status, the cricketers and the officials have gone through great struggles and to date things have hardly changed. With great impedances Joseph Vaz adamantly continues to play a brand of cricket that is unique to them. With that approach the cricketers of Joseph Vaz are ready face off 12 matches during this season.
Under the captaincy of well experienced all-rounder Kasun Vidura who is also a member of the Sri
Primash Obris (VC)
Lanka Under-19 team, Joseph Vaz comes out as a well balanced unit. With the services of six seasoned seniors the team from Wennappuwa hopes to end the season on a high note. Apart from fifth year player Vidura, deputy skipper Primash Obris, Yomal Perera, Ravindu Dilshan, Rukshan Fernando and Shanin Sewwinda are the other seniors in the squad. The side is coached by Mohamed Furkhan who is in his third year in-charge of the team.
Furkhan rates this year’s Joseph Vaz team as a well balanced unit to come out since 2007, the year they got promoted to the top division. To strengthen the well experienced top order, Joseph Vaz has Rukshan Fernando and Yukthi Janapriya, a left and right handed combination, to open their batting. At number three comes in skipper Vidura with Obris, Sewwinda, Yomal, Ransi Peiris and Nipun Shavinda to follow the strong batting line-up. To toughen the team is their well balanced bowling unit which comprises three pacemen and four spinners.
Last season they played only the eight games designated in the inter-school tournament as they could not comply further due to lack of funds. Yet they managed to win two games. This season with an expanded list of games Joseph Vaz counts to record at least six wins while looking forward to reach the limited overs tournament for the first time in five years. These are their primary hopes apart from pushing their top contenders to perform better for a place in the Sri Lanka Under-19 squad.
- NA
Shanin Sewwinda
| Joseph Vaz College Cricket Squad – 2013
Kasun Vidura (Capt) Left hand Left-arm leg-spin |
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