Former S. Thomas’ College all-rounder Dellon Peiris, the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 2018 season, is bursting with energy and determination to make an impact in the national firmament after his promising career was plagued by sickness and injuries. One of the finest talents to emerge from the school by the sea in Mount [...]

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Former Thomian cricket star rarin’ to make a comeback

All-rounder Dellon Peiris’ outstanding career was curtailed by dengue and torn ligaments
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With the champion S. Thomas’ College of 2018

Former S. Thomas’ College all-rounder Dellon Peiris, the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 2018 season, is bursting with energy and determination to make an impact in the national firmament after his promising career was plagued by sickness and injuries.

One of the finest talents to emerge from the school by the sea in Mount Lavinia, Dellon is rarin’ to go after being laid low by dengue and torn ligaments in his right ankle at crucial stages of his outstanding career.

A left arm orthodox spinner and right hand middle order batsman who went head to head with Sri Lanka spinner Lasith Embuldeniya of Royal on his debut for S. Thomas’ in the ‘Battle of the Blues’ in 2016, Dellon had a glittering school cricket career sweeping the All Island awards in the 2017-18 season.

Claiming the Mustangs Trophy

He captained S. Thomas’ that season leading from the front scoring 626 runs and snaring 72 wickets in 23 matches including five five-wicket hauls and a match bag of 10 on one occasion. He also achieved the distinction of claiming a hat-trick against Dharmapala as S. Thomas’ recorded eight wins, including six outright, to be adjudged the Best All Island School team after 30 years. He also held 31 catches to be nominated for the Best Fielder’s award.

His prolific form continued the following season scoring 486 runs and capturing 88 wickets in 26 matches and playing an integral role as a fourth year coloursman in the Thomian victory at the 140th Battle of the Blues.

Winner of the Prasanna Meemanage Memorial Prize for the Best Spin Bowler of the season for four consecutive years, Dellon displayed his leadership potential captaining S. Thomas’ in all age groups from under-13, under-15 and under-17. He achieved the honour of captaining the College first XI team in 2017-18 season, leading S. Thomas’ to a record fifth consecutive triumph in the Mustangs Trophy one-day encounter against Royal and attained the distinction of being adjudged the Best All Island school cricket captain to cap an excellent season.

Dellon Shayam Millein Brian Lara Peiris who was born during the era when West Indian great Brian Lara reigned supreme seemed destined to achieve great deeds as a cricketer although displaying his talents as an all-round sportsman at school level. He represented College in junior rugby, played hockey, competed in the 800 metres and was an outstanding swimmer being a member of the record breaking Freestyle Relay team in the Public Schools swimming event in the under 12 age category in 2011.

Winning one of thre three awards in 2018

“Leading S. Thomas’ to become the Best All Island team after 30 years was the most memorable moment in my career and also taking a hat-trick that season. I was looking forward to getting into the Sri Lanka Under 19 but unfortunately I got dengue (in 2018). Then while practising at Ragama CC the next season I completely tore two of my ligaments and was out for seven months,” said Dellon who aims to reignite his career by taking part in the Premier tournament and playing in the Red Bull Campus tournament representing Imperial College of Business Studies where he is doing a degree in International Business and Finance.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to prove myself and make a comeback to the Sri Lankan arena,” said Dellon who will be 21 next month.

“I am training and doing my physical fitness and waiting for a breakthrough to play at national level,” said Dellon whose idol as a bowler is Rangana Herath, one of the greatest left arm spinners Sri Lanka has produced while his role model as a captain is another Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene.

Having played for Jaffna in the Under-19 Inter-Provincial tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket and represented Ragama CC in the Under-23 Limited Over tournament last year before the season was curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, outstanding talents like Dellon are waiting on the wings to step up to the plate and answer the call of national duty.

Dellon Peiris’ Achievements in Cricket
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  •  Captained College 1st XI cricket team for the 2017 / 2018 season: Qualified up to Pre-quarters in the League Tournament, Qualified up to the Semi Finals in the Limited Overs of the Singer Sri Lanka Schools Cricket tournament
  • Captained the College 1st XI cricket team at the 139th Battle of the Blues in 2018.
  •  Captained the College 1st XI cricket team at the 43rd Mustangs Trophy in 2018, won it for a record 5th consecutive year

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS

  •  Member of the Under-19 (2015 / 2016) Inter Schools Cricket T-20 Tournament, qualified up to quarter finals.
  •  Member of the Under-19 (2015 / 2016) Inter Schools Cricket Division 1 league Tournament, qualified up to semi finals.
  •  Member of the Under-19 Inter Schools Cricket Division 1 League Tournament, awarded best runner-up team in the Western Province for the season 2016/2017
  •  Member of the Under-19 Inter provincial Cricket Tournament for the year 2017, represented Northern Province.

NATIONAL AWARDS

  •  Best Captain and Best All-Rounder runner-up awards at Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2018
  •  All Island Best Captain for the season 2017 / 2018
  •  All Island Best All-rounder runner-up for the season 2017 / 2018
  •  Captained S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia which won the All Island Best Team for the season 2017 / 2018.
  •  Runner-up of the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer award in the Dialog Sunday Times School Boy Cricketer 2018
  •  Nominated for the All Island Best Fielder for the season 2017 / 2018

ROYAL – THOMIAN

  •  Prasanna Meemanage Memorial Prize for the Best Spin Bowler of the season 2015 / 2016, 2016 / 2017, 2017 / 2018, 2018 / 2019
  •  P Senadheera Memorial Prize for the Cricketer with The Best Record in Games and Work of the season 2016 / 2017
  •  Ondaatjie Cup for the Best All Round Cricketer of the season 2016 / 2017, 2017 / 2018
  •  C.M. Samarasinghe Memorial Cup for the Best Bowler during the season 2017 / 2018
  •  L.P. de Silva Memorial Challenge Cup for the Best All Round Cricketer of the season 2017 / 2018.
  •  Hellings Ellawela Memorial Trophy for the Captain of the 1st XI Cricket Team
  •  Ranjith Jayasekara Memorial Challenge Cup for the Best All round performance by a Thomian at the 139th Battle of the Blues cricket match in 2018
  •  Thambirajah Thambipillai Memorial Challenge Cup for the Best Performance at the 139th Battle of the Blues for Bowling in 2018
  •  Harsha Abeywardena Memorial Trophy for the Man of the Match at the 139th Battle of the Blues in 2018
  •  College 1st XI cricket colours for the year 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019

OVERSEAS TOURS

  •  Toured India, Bangalore – 2013. Representing SSC School of Cricket Academy, Captain U-13 ‘A’ team and won the inter cricket academy ‘Visa Cup’.
  •  Toured Malaysia in 2016 in honour of winning the All Island U-15 cricket championship after 32 years. Represented S. Thomas’ U-15 team as captain.
  •  Toured Australia, Adelaide in 2018, representing S. Thomas’ College Cricket 1st XI team as captain. Took part in inaugural ‘Chappell brother’s trophy’, in celebration of 150 years of Prince Alfred College, Adelaide. Won the tournament being unbeaten. Also went to Melbourne and played a few friendly games with an academy. Tour in honour of winning the Mustang Trophy (Royal-Thomian one-day) for the fifth consecutive year and becoming the All Island Best team after 30 years.
  •  Toured England, London in 2019, representing S. Thomas’ College Cricket 1st XI team as a player. Tour in honour of winning the 140th Battle of the Blues and becoming the All Island Best team for the second consecutive year.

 

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