Malith Gunasekera Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer

Leslie FERNANDO

OUTSTATION CRICKETER: Playing cricket for six years for the 1st XI team of a school is a unique achievement and Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Malith Chathuranga Gunasekera can well be somewhat proud of the fact that he captained Tissa MMV of Kalutara this year.

He has performed well with the bat and ball this season. A capable batsman Malith Chathuranga Gunasekera has gathered 1,607 runs in the season which has just ended. He had top score of 217 against Sri Jayawardenapura College, Kotte. He has scored four centuries and ten half centuries in the 15 matches this season. His cricketing prowess does not end with his batting. He is also a clever bowler and he has claimed 118 wickets with his medium pacies. He has got five-wicket hauls eleven times. His best effort has a match haul of 16 wickets _ 9 for 19 and 7 for 26 in the first and second innings against Horana Royal College. It was a satisfying performance for him.

Malith Chathuranga, besides winning the coveted Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award, also carried away the Best Allrounders’ Award for his outstanding performances this season.

He started playing cricket at a young age of 10 years and his cricket prowess was such that he went on to captain the under-15, under-17 and under-19. He was captained this year and his leadership paved the way for Tissa MMV getting six outright wins of the 15 matches that they played.

For Chathuranga, it was a creditable feat for playing in the ‘Big Match’ against Kalutara Vidyalaya for six year from 2005 to 2010. At this year’s encounter, he fared prominently, scoring century (100) and claiming 6 for 42 and 3 for 28. At this 52nd ‘Battle of the ‘Mongasteen’ he was named the Best Batsman and the Man of the Match.

Wilfred Weerasinghe, the Principal of Tissa MMV, and the three coaches Dumidu Hemal (his first coach), Nalin Roshan and Pramuka Sudesh together with Indika Alwis, Master-in-Charge have given their full support for Malith to reach a good standard in cricket. He is grateful to them and also to his teammates and parents for encouraging him in the game.

Malith Chathuranga Gunasekera is turning out for Panadura SC in the Premier League Cricket Tournament and playing club cricket also has helped him to reach high levels.

He will sit for the ‘A’ Level Examination in August this year.