by Rex Clementine

When the team sheets for the Hong Kong Sixes hit the table, not a soul gave Sri Lanka a shot. Their squad didn’t boast any glittering stars, and it seemed every spectator, organizer, and sponsor had set their hearts on a blockbuster India-Pakistan final. After all, these two nuclear-armed neighbours rarely clash in bilateral series, so global events like this become a rare opportunity for fans to watch them go at each other’s jugular.

But the Sri Lankan selectors had pulled a clever rabbit out of the hat. They chose a squad of relatively inexperienced players who had excelled in domestic white-ball cricket, and that underdog team stormed to the finals unbeaten, delivering a thunderbolt by toppling pre-tournament favourites Pakistan.

Several players shone like diamonds in this competition, but it was Tharindu Ratnayake who stole the show, earning the Player of the Tournament title. Ratnayake wowed the crowd with his unique skill set—he could bowl both right-arm off-spin and left-arm orthodox with impeccable control. In the semi-final, he snatched four wickets, followed by two more in the final, and sealed the unforgettable tour by smashing a six to clinch victory.

“It was a very well-organized tournament. With the India-Pakistan rivalry, everyone was hoping for them to reach the finals. We were the underdogs, no doubt. People kept asking why Sri Lanka hadn’t sent any big names, as if we were just here to make up the numbers. What they didn’t know was that each of us had proven ourselves in domestic cricket,” Ratnayake told The Island.

“Without any big names, we realized we had to do something special. Our captain rallied us, telling us to watch every game closely and study the art of playing six-a-side competition. We began crafting strategies accordingly. Our goal was to score 25 runs in one over and more than 20 in two overs. We knew that if we could do that, we’d post totals hard to chase. Our bowling was our secret weapon, and you could see teams struggled to reach even 90 runs against us. Only in the semi-final did we concede more than 100,” Ratnayake reflected.

“None of us had ever set foot in Hong Kong before. Two Sri Lankans, Godwin and Rusiru, went out of their way to look after us, and our Manager, Mr. Samantha Dodanwala, handled everything with professionalism, making sure we were relaxed and focused. We’re grateful to Sri Lanka Cricket for putting their trust in us.”

He went on, “We owe thanks to all the Sri Lankans who showed up in numbers. When they cheered, ‘Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka!’ I got goosebumps. I’d never felt anything like that before; it fired me up even more.”

Although Kamindu Mendis has gained credit for his ambidextrous bowling, with television coverage showcasing his skill, it was Ratnayake who pioneered this art. He started out as a seamer, bowling right-arm and left-arm pace, but his district coach, Wasantha Wijesuriya, told him, “No one’s going to make an impact bowling seam from both arms.” Encouraged by this advice, Ratnayake switched to spin.

Hailing from the distant town of Marawila, Ratnayake’s cricketing journey began at St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa. Later, he earned a scholarship to S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, where he made massive strides, even bagging the Man of the Match award in the Royal-Thomian. In his final year, he was the second-highest wicket-taker across the island and earned a spot on the Sri Lanka Under-19 squad. Ratnayake has since journeyed across the domestic circuit, representing Bloomfield, SSC, Moors, and Sebastianites, before settling at Tamil Union.

Sri Lanka’s unexpected victory in Hong Kong wasn’t just a testament to skill but a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is determination, careful planning, and a few brave souls willing to shake up the script.