Uditha Balasuriye of Ibbagamuwa gets to 1,000 runs

by S.M. Jeffrey ABDEEN – Kandy Sports Corr.

CRICKET: Uditha Balasuriya of Ibbagamuwa Central College reached 1,000 runs for the season during course of his innings of 18 in their match against St. Mary’s College, Kegalle at Kegalle last week.

Perhaps Uditha Balasuriya who is the present skipper of the side is the first cricketer from Ibbagamuwa Central College to reach this coveted figure during its cricketing history spanning over fifty years.

Uditha Balasuriya a forceful right-hand batsman, started well scoring 106 and 51 not out in their opener against St. Thomas’ College, Matale.

By the end of the third term matches, he had been so consistent aggregating 879 runs in 9 matches.

But nervousness struck him when on 999 runs as he was dismissed for 90 against Karandeniya Central College which denied him of his fourth hundred for the season.

Horrors struck in the next match against St. Mary’s College, Kegalle he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings. Once again that single run eluded him. This was also his first ‘duck’ for the season.

But in the second innings batting with caution, a hit to the mid wicket brought him the single run needed to reach four figures for the season.

The best match for Uditha Balasuriya was their taurnament game against Keglu Vidyalaya in which he scored 112 and 64 but yet his side lost the match by six wickets.

Uditha Balasuriya has this season scored 3 centuries and 8 fifties. His seasons record is as follows:

106 and 51 not out VS St. Thomas’ College, Matale.
40 and 35 VS St. Anne’s College.
153 VS Sri Sumangala College, Kandy
9 and 23 VS St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya.
76 VS Rahula College, Matara.
51 and 66 VS Bandaranaike MV Gampaha.
62 VS Wayamba Royal College.
112 and 62 VS Kegalu Vidyalaya.
59 and 90 VS Karandeniya Central College.
0 and 18 VS St. Mary’s College, Kegalle.