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| Sunday, 9 February 2003 |
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Sahan - a step away from big break by LESLIE FERNANDO Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer All-Island 2002, Sahan Wijeratne of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, a promising all-rounder has been included in the BCCSL Development Squad, for his consistent performances in school cricket. Sahan has been instrumental for Cambrians excellent showing in the 2002 school cricket season as captain. He has already excelled for the college this season scoring 622 runs including a century and four half centuries. He smashed a brilliant unbeaten 120 against Isipatana. Sahan has also captured 36 wickets from six games. Best being - a match haul of 9 for 96 against Wesley. Sahan is a competent right handed one drop bat, a player with an upright stance and a wide range of strokes. He made excellent scores last season with his 97. His 103 against St. Sebastian's in the 'Big Match' the showpiece, capped by 116 against the same opponents in the limited over game. In 2002 he scored 1,123 runs. A good off spinner, he had 52 wickets as well with a best of 7 for 17 against St. Benedict's College. Sahan's main virtue is his ability to maintain an excellent line and length with a temperament to bowl long spells. Sahan took a shine to the game at the age of 8 years. He was at Rawatawatte Methodist School. But the door opened for the lad when he got a scholarship to Prince of Wales to Grade 6. His favourite cricketer was former Indian Captain Mohammad Azharuddin. "By watching Azharuddin, I developed a liking for batting," Sahan said. 'An 18-year-old 'A' Level student, Sahan has been the mainstay of the Prince of Wales batting. He is a very fine fielder too. The immediate competition for Sahan will be to get a batting slot in the School's under-19 team against their English counterparts in a few months time. "I'm sure I will fight my way in," said a confident, yet unassuming Sahan. Indeed, Sahan has all the makings to ascendancy. A talent the Cambrian has honed to be regarded as the best product to emerge from Prince of Wales in recent years. Representing the College under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams and captaining all the teams at regular intervals are credentials that have underscored this. He is the only schoolboy cricketer who has completed 1,000 runs in the 2001-2002 inter-school Lemonade Trophy Cricket Tourney. He scored 1,121 runs including 5 centuries and 4 half centuries in 2001. Captaincies during 2000-2001-2002 - Led the Under-17 SL Schools' Cricket team that toured Pakistan for Asia Cup. Captain of the Cambrian Under-17 team. Led the Under-17 SL Schools' cricket team against Canadian National Cricket team in one-day match. Captained the Colombo District 'D' team. Skipper of the Under-19 Western Province South Cricket team and captain of the Under-19 College team. Best achievements - Represented Under-19 'A' team at 14 years in 1998, Captain of the under-17 Sri Lanka School Cricket team. Scored 101 not out and 51 not out in the 51st 'Big Match' against St. Sebastian's in 2001. Highest scorer in both innings (200 runs) during the 52nd 'Big Match' against St. Sebastian's in 2002. Scored two centuries in the 'Big Match 2001 and 2002 repeatedly and was adjudged 'Best Batsman' in both Big Matches. Tours - Had the honour of captaining the Under-17 SL School's Cricket team to Pakistan and winning the trophy in 2000. Toured Bangladesh for Asia Cup as the skipper of Sri Lanka Under-17 team and scored 101 not out against Malaysia and 40 against India. Toured Pakistan for Under-19 one-day International Series. In the year 2002 won the Lemonade Trophy for 'best All-rounder' in School cricket. Also won Cambrian cricket colours and Milo School cricket colours. Last year, Sahan played League cricket for Bosborough in Middlesex, England during a 6-month scholarship coming tops scoring three centuries and eleven half centuries. The Mayor of Dehiwela, Dhanasiri Amaratunga presented Rs. 10,000 and a trophy for Sahan for bringing honour to the school and the town on being selected as the 'Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002.' Sahan is very grateful to his coaches, Sunil de Silva, Jayantha Perera, Bandula de Silva and Hemantha Devapriya for offering him all the assistance. Sahan's emergence is not surprising. The lad has had it in his genes. His father, Sarath, Personal Assistant to the Mayor of Dehiwela, was a good sportsman and his mother, Chandrika, a typist at the Dehiwala Municipal Council was a very keen sportswoman of Princess of Wales. Sarath was an under-17 all-island athletic champion while Chandrika is the captain of the Dehiwela MC netball team. His only sister, Kavisha, a year-7 student at Princess of Wales Moratuwa has also taken after the others. |
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