Best Batsman - Outstation:

Pubudu Hasanka - fifth batsman to reach 1,000 run mark

By Leslie FERNANDO

OBSERVER-MOBITEL: Pubudu Hasanka, the captain of Royal College, Panadura became the fifth batsman to reach the 1,000 - run mark in the 2009-2010 school cricket season.

The 6th year coloursman Pubudu, was selected as the Best Batsman-Outstation at the 32nd Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest by the panel of umpires together with the officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

He has amassed 1,383 runs in 18 innings (average 82.2) with a double century, two centuries and nine half centuries.

Hasanka has contributed immensely towards the success of his school which has won nine matches in 16 outings. Pubudu, a right-hand batsman, comes in as no. 3 or 4 and has supported the other frontline batsmen to strengthen the batting line up. Pubudu scored a double-century against Poramadulla MV, Nuwara Eliya and centuries against St.Anthony’s College, Wattala and Horana Thaxshila College. As a right-arm leg-spinner, he has bagged 39 wickets.

Due to his able leadership, Royal College, Panadura was selected as the Best Team Outstation in the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest 2010.

He was, of course, selected for the national youth pool following a tremendous season for Royal College, Panadura in the schools cricket season in 2009. From his young days, Pubudu has been involved in schools cricket academy and has played in the under-13, under-15, under-17 teams and in under-19. Pubudu who showed early promise as an outstanding player, had the distinction of captaining all age category teams of the school. Indeed a very creditable feat!

Furthermore, while as under-15 schoolboy cricketer he was invited to play for Panadura Cricket Club in the BCCSL tournament.

He had the honour of captaining the under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams in the inter-district cricket tournament matches organised by Sri Lanka Cricket.

Pubudu was amongst the best three players named at the two tournaments conducted by the Coca-Cola Cricket Academy and Sirasa.

He has participated in Coca-Cola Cricket Pathway training camp and also participated in the Fingara International Cricket Academy.

He has played for Moratuwa SC in the under-23 cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket in 2009 and presently plays for the NCC in the under-23 tournament and has shown good form as an allrounder.

Pubudu was grateful to H.A. Sumitha Prasanna at Panadura Cricket Club and Royal College, Panadura coach for his guidance and encouragement offered to him from his young days.

He said that he was proud to lead Royal College, Panadura who became the Best Team Outstation and also to be awarded the Best Batsman Outstation from the organisers Sunday Observer together with sponsor Mobitel.