Sebastianite Avishka gearing up for bigger challenges
View(s):By – Naushad Amit ; Pics by Amila Gamage
Young Avishka Fernando, who is turning 15 this year, is likely to be the next generation allrounder that Sri Lanka cricket is longing to see. Avishka, a keen cricketer who is following his dreams of success, is making gradual headway on his way to the top. Last season as an Under-13 cricketer at St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, Avishka had the rare opportunity of playing in the school’s annual big match against archrivals Prince of Wales’ College, following a rather successful debut with the first XI team. 
By doing this Avishka broke a record that existed for three decades, after the legendary Duleep Mendis accomplished a similar feat in the mid 1970s.
After having made nearly 350 runs from his first XI season, including of a knock of 109 runs against Thurstan College Colombo, Avishka has strongly made his presence felt as an allrounder from the beginning of this season. Last week he claimed a match bag of nine wickets, conceding just 27 runs while steering St. Sebastian’s towards a convincing nine-wicket win against St. Peter’s College Colombo; a rare feat from a youngster playing among bigger boys.
“In the concluded schools first XI cricket season I was able to score a century against Thurstan and a half century against Royal College Colombo as an opening batsman. I was given the task of opening the bowling attack against St. Peter’s and I just stuck to the basics and doing my part. I never thought it would end in such a fashion,” Avishka said, beaming with confidence.
Avishka Fernando
As of today, Avishka has managed to justify his inclusion in the first XI side by producing sterling performances, which at times have been match-winning acts. Avishka is gradually asserting his authority as an opening batsman as well as an opening bowler, while aiming higher to play cricket at top levels.
The tall and lanky cricketer has become one of the busiest youngsters in the country while appearing for two age category tournaments at a time. A few
weeks ago Avishka was given a break from first XI duties to appear in the Under-15 Inter-Provincial tournament where his team, Western Province South, clinched the championship by beating Western Province North by 3 wickets. In that match Avishka played an anchor role by hitting 89 runs from 109 balls inclusive of 11 fours and a six.
“I started playing cricket as a five-year-old and I always loved it. My father who was a former cricketer helped me in a big way to become what I am today. He used to take me to the playground and throw the ball at me since I was a kid. My father had been a good cricketer but destiny prevented him from continuing the sport. As a result he was very keen to make me a top cricketer, which I too enjoy, at least dreaming of it. I’m quite positive that I can achieve that goal,” Avishka, who aims to be more successful than his record predecessor Duleep Mendis, through his remaining five first XI seasons said.
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