Sports

Dunith, who once withdrew from Sri Lanka U19 team for O/L’s returns as skipper

Published

4 years ago

2021/10/9

by Reemus Fernando

In 2018 when the Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team was selected for a home series against Bangladesh in October, St. Joseph’s College spinner Dunith Wellalage withdrew from the team to concentrate on the O/L examination. That was something very rare. Many are the junior cricketers who give up on education to concentrate on cricket. It was probably the first such occasion in recent times. Exactly three years after that decision, which was backed by his parents and the Darley Road College, Wellalage is returning to lead the side against Bangladesh.

When The Island carried the news of Wellalage’s withdrawal from the team in 2018 there was praise for this young cricketer from Moratuwa who had been excelling as a spinner in every junior schools cricket tournament since he was eleven years old.

He was among the key strike bowlers for St. Sebastian’s Under-13 from the time he started playing in that age category. At St. Sebastian’s, he received a well deserving place in the Under-15 team when he was still eligible to play in the Under-13 team. He is one of the very few players to have played in an Under-15 Division I team for three consecutive years, two for St. Sebastian’s and one for St. Joseph’s. In his very first year in the Under-15 team, he became the key strike bowler for St. Sebastian’s. His left-arm spin was crucial in the team reaching the Under-15 Division I tournament final in both 2015 and 2016. The Sebs ended up runners up on both occasions but Wellalage was adjudged the best bowler of the tournament on both occasions. By the time the Singer Junior Cricket Awards Ceremony for 2015 and 2016 seasons was held in 2017 he had moved to St. Joseph’s.

At St. Joseph’s Wellalage blossomed not only as a bowler but also as a reliable late order batsman who could save them on many occasions forming crucial partnerships with paceman Lakshan Gamage. One of his first major contributions with the bat for St. Joseph’s Under-19 team incidentally came in the match against his former school in 2018 January when he scored 85 runs in the Joes’ massive total of 416 in reply to Sebs’ 334 for seven declared.

In the 2017/18 season Wellalage was the Joes’ highest wicket taker with a tally of 72 wickets (after 18 matches). He had probably bowled more than any other bowler that season bowling over 400 overs of which over 80 overs were maidens. When the season concluded with St. Joseph’s winning the knockout tournament on first innings points against Trinity, Wellalage was the key strike bowler taking four wickets. The following season he played only eight matches but when the next season started, he started to excel more as a batsman than a bowler. One of his most remarkable batting performances was against Isipatana when he hammered 197 runs (in 179 balls) in a Joes’ total of 402. That season he scored over 700 runs in 15 matches and had an aggregate of over 50 wickets.

Probably the best of Wellalage, both as a batsman and a bowler was yet to be witnessed when school cricket came to a standstill in March 2020 due to Covid 19. But when the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association conducted a curtailed Under-19 Limited Overs Tournament in May this year Wellalage was playing a different role leading St. Joseph’s as captain. And the Joes went on to win the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs Cricket title beating Royal in the final.

The selectors have picked Wellalage to lead the team on merit of his experience after being in the junior national setup since 2018. Nalandian Raveen de Silva is his deputy. Silva too has been in the setup since 2018. Incidentally, it was de Silva who filled Wellalage’s place when the latter withdrew from the team for his O/L in 2018.

Sri Lanka Under-19 team is currently in Dambulla preparing for the series against Bangladesh. The first match will be played on October 15.

All News Advertisement

Sports

Washout gives Kolkata Knight Riders first point after Bartlett’s new-ball burst

Published

31 mins ago

2026/04/7

Priyan

PBKS may have felt that the rain cost them a point [BCCI]

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got their first points of IPL 2026 but without a victory against their name after their home clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) was washed out on Monday night. Desperate for a win after starting the campaign with two losses on the bounce, KKR were reeling against swing of Xavier Bartlett and were 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs when drizzle stopped the game.

It soon turned into heavy rain with gusts of wind and the entire ground went under white covers. From 7.48pm IST, when the players went off the field, the spectators waited until 11pm when play was called off.

PBKS top the table for now as the only team with five points; three teams are on their heels with four points each.

Rain stopped at around 10.30pm, and hopes of a shortened game lingered briefly as the covers started to come off, but with plenty of water coming off the covers and accumulating near the boundary areas, it was not possible to get the field ready in time for a five-overs-a-side contest.

KKR’s struggles with the bat continued after their captain Ajinkya Rahane surprisingly chose to bat. They were also without their spin twins of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy; the last time KKR had played a match without either was back in 2019. While Narine was unwell, Varun had injured his left hand while fielding in their previous game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Varun was seen in the dugout with strapping on his hand.

Arshdeep Singh started well for PBKS, swinging the ball both ways in the first over, before Bartlett took over with his hooping outswingers. He beat Finn Allen three times in a row with outswing at the start of the second over before extracting his outside edge to send him back for 6. Next ball, he drew a thick edge from Cameron Green that went for four, and he then pounded in another zippy outswinger that kissed Green’s outside edge for another caught-behind.

In just three balls, KKR had slipped from 12 for 0 to 16 for 2 as Rahane watched from the other end. It had drizzled a bit through that period of action, and the umpires called for the covers in the fourth over.

The only reason for the KKR faithful to cheer was when franchise co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was shown on the big screen and when he later appeared on the balcony to wave to the fans.

Scores: Match abandoned
Kolkata Knight Riders 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 08*, AngkrishnRaguvanshi 07*; Xavier Bartlett 2-9) vs Punjab Kings

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Hasaranga, Pathirana yet to undergo SLC-mandated fitness tests

Published

41 mins ago

2026/04/7

Priyan

Wanindu Hasaranga got injured in the T20 World Cup [Cricinfo]

Matheesha Pathirana and Wanidu Hasaranga are among 15 Sri Lankan players under central contracts yet to take their mandatory fitness tests, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed. Six others are understood to have failed at least one attempt, which means that of the 45 centrally-contracted players, currently only 24 have passed the test.

The reasons for those yet to take the test vary from injuries to logistical issues. The timelines for Hasaranga and Pathirana remain most pertinent, with the pair set to represent Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively in IPL 2026.

Hasaranga’s scenario looks the most bleak, with sources close to the player saying it’s unlikely he will play “anytime soon,” while a source at SLC said that “Hasaranga has not as yet requested for an NOC (No Objection Certificate).” The legspinner has been out of action since tearing his left hamstring in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup opener against Ireland in February, and there is no clear idea on when he will undergo his fitness evaluation.

Pathirana, who strained his calf in the T20 World Cup match against Australia, is understood to have begun bowling in the nets as he ups his recovery, with sources close to the player hopeful of him being in India for the IPL by mid-April. While no date has been officially set for his SLC-mandated fitness test, it is likely to take place next week.

SLCs overhauling of their fitness culture has also extended to the domestic National Super League tournament, which began on Monday. The testing for that is less stringent; players only need to complete a 2km run and a skin-fold test. No points are allocated, they simply need to pass the minimum threshold. Whereas centrally-contracted players have a 20m sprint, a 5-0-5 agility test, and a Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) – each offering points ranging from one to five each – with a potential seven points each up for grabs in the 2km run and skin-fold test. Seventeen out of 29 points are needed to pass the test.

Of the 87 players taking part in the tournament, 23 failed to clear the minimum fitness requirements and have been given an April 19 deadline to pass the test. If they fail to do so, they will be allowed to continue playing but will be denied their match fees, with future representation in the tournament also likely to come under scrutiny.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Samash smashes century as Joes post 354

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Aveesha Samash (Picture credit ThePapare)

Open batsman Aveesha Samash produced a superb century to power St. Joseph’s College to a commanding first-day total against Prince of Wales College in their Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ semi-final encounter at the D.H.H. Ground, Madampella on Monday.

‎Samash top scored with a brilliant 122 runs, striking 14 fours and three sixes, as the Josephians piled up an imposing 354 in their first innings.

‎Asked to take first lease of the wicket, St. Joseph’s suffered an early setback, losing two wickets for just 16 runs. However, Samash steadied the innings with a crucial third wicket partnership alongside Pamoda Dalpadado. The pair added a valuable 173 runs to turn the match in favour of the Josephians.

‎Batting for more than thirty overs together, Samash played the aggressor’s role while Dalpadado provided steady support, ensuring the Joes rebuilt strongly and maintained control of the contest. Dalpadado contributed a well-compiled 64 before being caught by Rusandu Silva off the bowling of Oshan Maneesha, who emerged as the pick of the Prince of Wales bowlers.

‎Samash continued his fluent innings to reach a well-deserved century before being dismissed after laying a solid platform for his side.

‎Following their departures, Chethina Kavinda added a useful 34 while Nushan Perera accelerated the scoring with an entertaining 60 off 68 balls, which included nine boundaries and a six, helping the Josephians reach their formidable total of 354.

‎For Prince of Wales, Oshan Maneesha led the bowling effort with good support from Nethul Anuhas and Rusandu Silva, who claimed two wickets each.

‎At stumps on the opening day, the Cambrians safely negotiated one over each from Nushan Perera and Vishwa Peiris without losing a wicket, beginning their reply cautiously.

‎‎Scores:

‎St. Joseph’s 354 all out in 78.3 overs (Aveesha Samash 122, Pamoda Dalpadado 64, Nushan Perera 60, Chethina Kavinda 34; Oshan Maneesha 4/91, Nethul Anuhas 2/83, Rusandu Silva 2/39).

‎Prince of Wales

3 for no loss in 2 overs. (RF)