Chinthaka unlucky not to get a place in team
by Ranjan ANANDAPPA
CRICKET: The 1997 Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Chintaka
Jayasinghe the only cricketer from Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya to
win the contest, should consider himself really unlucky not to find a
place in the national cricket team.
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Chintaka Jayasinghe |
Jayasinghe is a balanced all-rounder who could deliver the goods
either with the bat or ball whenever he is required to do so. He
represented Dharmapala for five consecutive years and in his last three
years at school, topped the 1,000 run mark in the years ‘95, ‘96, ‘97
and with his all-round capabilities was a firm favourite for the title.
After leaving school, he joined Bloomfield C&AC and was a regular member
of the Premier Division Cricket Tournament. This season he has scored
over 730 runs with three centuries. Mahela Jayawardena (Nalanda), Kumar
Sangakkara (Trinity), Thilan Samaraweera (Ananda) and Rangana Herath
(Maliyadeva) were his contemporaries. All are regular members of the
current Test team today.
However, Jayasinghe got a break when he was selected to play in the
T20 World Cup in the West Indies last year.
With a good performance this season he is looking forward to play in
the T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka next year.
In addition to his winning the main award, he took the Best Batsman
and the Best All-rounder’s awards in 1997.
Presently employed at the Hatton National Bank, he has represented
the institution in the Mercantile Tournament and done well as an
all-rounder and has been a part of the Bank’s success at cricket.
Referring to the competition, Jayasinghe said that it is an ideal one
for the young emerging player who will be encouraged to do better. Over
the past three decades, the Sunday Observer conducted contest has
provided great opportunities for the young players.
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