Jeewantha the budding batsman
by Tyrell Peiris
At 36 years, when most
cricketers of his age would be retiring from the game, Jeewantha
Kulatunga is still keeping at his game. And what is more like ‘old
broomsticks’ sweep, he is getting better by the day. The best example of
this fact is the record century he scored for the Wayamba Province in
the Twenty 20 Inter-Provincial Tournament. Jeewantha, in fact, became
the first batsman in the tournament to score a century and the fastest
at that in only 62 balls. Jeewantha’s effort helped his side Wayamba to
win the tournament.
 It took his team right up to the final in which Wayamba defeated
Basnahira Province. A player, who has been cold shouldered by the
national selectors when it came to national duty at the top level, it
once again seemed that his blistering century was not good enough to
influence the national selectors who overlooked him when selecting the
World Twenty20 squad. But under intense pressure, the selectors were
forced to change their decision and have now included Kulatunga in a
provisional 30-member squad from which the final squad will be selected.
Being ignored by the selectors has not dissuaded Jeewantha to give
up. Instead, he has continued to pile up the runs in the domestic first
class cricket as well as for Sri Lanka ‘A’ XI.
An old boy of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegela and a former Colts CC
player, Jeewantha’s strong point is being a powerful strokemaker. When
other cricketers of his age usually lose their ability to perform,
Jeewantha has made his presence felt. In fact, he was the highest run
getter for Wayamba with a strike rate of 152.19 and was the ‘Man of the
Series’ in the concluded T20 provincial tournament. Jeewantha’s success
comes with a regular fitness program and training in the nets. This is
what he says that has kept him in cricket so long with success.
His batting changed for the better when he developed an improvised
back lift which he says gives him more time to play his shots. He has
also represented Peradeniya University having had a successful
educational career.
A fine all-rounder, he has scored 12 centuries and 48 half centuries
in first class cricket in 266 innings from 182 matches with 14 not outs
at an average of 69.25. As a bowler, Jeewantha has claimed 77 wickets
with career best figures of 5 for 67 and an average of 29.09. He is also
a fine fielder taking 184 catches. Born on November 1, 1973 he also set
up another record scoring the fastest double century in a three-day
match.
Hettiarachchi Gamage Jeevantha Mahesh Kulatunga has certainly done
his hometown Kurunegela proud. He says that he owes much of his success
to his father, H.G. Kulatunga who inspired him. Jeewantha represents
Kurunegela YCC. Let’s hope Jeewantha will make it to the final squad for
the T20 World Cup and will be given the deserving opportunity to
represent Sri Lanka at the big show.
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