Chandimal

a bright prospect for the future:

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Scoring 1,000 runs in an inter school cricket season is great. And to become the first batsman to perform that feat in any given season is even more unique. For Ananda College skipper Dinesh Chandimal this has been a memorable year as he keeps on piling up runs in search of more glory.

The run machine of Ananda College has already left a lasting impression with his trade mark style of batting which has shattered the hopes of many opposition teams. The aggressive right hander has already compiled three centuries and eight half centuries apart from his wicket keeping duties.

Chandimal is not just an accumulator of runs but he simply wants to get on top of the bowlers and dominate the scene in a ruthless manner. No wonder his favourite cricketer is Romesh Kaluwitharana for his aggressive style of batting and excellent wicket keeping skills.

This is quite evident considering the fact that most of his hundreds and other big scores have been scored almost at a run a ball. There has been many occasions where several top bowlers have suffered at the hands of

Dinesh Chandimal who had the honour of being the vice captain of the Sri Lanka Under 19 side that played in the previous International Cricket Council (ICC) Youth World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In fact that series turned out to be a memorable one for Chandimal who took the man of the match award mainly due to his sheer brilliance behind the stumps in a high profile game against Australia.

He produced another match winning performance when he plundered a sparkling 65 for the Sri Lanka Under 19 team to beat England by seven wickets in January 2008.

In another outing he held on to four catches against Bangladesh in their fifth one dayer in December 2007.

This was followed by a splendid 143 against the Indian under 19 team during a three day match coupled with 19 boundaries. Chandimal has been a prolific run getter this year having made a magnificent 196 against Dharmapala MV on his home grounds at Ananda Mawatha.

In addition he scored a superb 153 not out against Lumbini MV and 111 against Maliyadeva College Kurunegala.

He has already claimed 45 victims behind the stumps. Chandimal also holds the record for the highest individual score in an inter school one day match when he hammered a trail blazing 205 against Moratuwa MV in Moratuwa during the 2006 season.

That was in fact his maiden season for Ananda College having shifted from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. Chandimal born on November 18, 1989 is the eldest in his family and his four younger brothers are studying at Dharmasoka College.

In fact he could not hide his emotions the day he left Dharmasoka College where he launched his career before blossoming into a promising wicket keeper batsman.