Gurukula MV looking to break winless hoodoo
Gurukula MV Kelaniya a vast improved side in the Under 19 inter- school cricket circuit will be looking to break the winless hoodoo when they meet traditional hometown rivals Dharmaloka MV Kelaniya in the 24th Battle of Kelaniya scheduled to be played on March 23 and 24 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Since the two sides began confronting each other in their traditional big match from 1987 all the matches have ended on the negative. So this time Gurukula MV has a big chance of making things come right for them and have the edge to record the first win of the series.
Gurukula MV this year will be led by all rounder and fourth year player Roshan Anuruddha while Dharmaloka MV will also be led by a fourth year player in Gayantha Anjana.
Roshan will have the services of experience players in deputy skipper Nalin Perera, Hashan Dumindu, Dushan Dhanushka, Namal Pathum, Chamod Sulakshana, Lisula Lakshan and Kasun Madusanka.
Hashan has been their top batsman this season who has scored 947 runs with two tons and five half tons to his credit. He will be the man that Dharmaloka MV players will have to watch.
Roshan and his deputy Nalin who have both scored over 600 runs will be other two batsmen who will be dangerous and if either of the three are not dislodged early then Dharmaloka MV will be in trouble.
The trio has also been in the forefront in the sides bowling department with skipper Roshan being their top wicket taker with over 60 scalps to his name. Nalin and Hashan are definitely going to be trouble makers for the Dharmaloka MV batsmen and is left to be seen how they are going to handle it.
Gurukula MV is going great guns and has shocked most of the leading cricket playing schools around the island. Their performance this season has been at the highest level having played 16 matches securing eight outright wins and losing only two.
The outrights came against Carey, Bandaranayake MV, Raddoluwa MV, Piliyandala Central Revatha MMV, St Sebastian’s Katuneriya, Maris Stella and St Aloysius Galle while the defeats have been against top schools Zahira and St Sebastian’s Moratuwa.
Dharmaloka MV on the other hand will be hoping their top batsman Sulaj Gayashan who is the deputy skipper to deliver the goods for them. Sulaj this season has scored over 900 runs inclusive of two tons and five half tons.
Dharmaloka MV will be depending in their three other senior players in skipper Gayantha, Prabud Harshitha and Gayana Gee- thanjana the other centurion of the side to make useful contributions if they are hoping to make any impression.
The bowling will be spearheaded by the skipper and his deputy with support coming from Sapumal Bandara, Shan Iresh, Janaka Pathum and Malka Madusanka.
The two day encounter will followed with 21st limited over clash which is scheduled to be played on March 31 at the same venue. From the 20 matches played so far Dharmaloka MV leads the tally with 11 wins against eight by Gurukula MV with one ending in a no decision.
Dharmaloka MV: Gayantha Anjana (Capt), Sulaj Gayashan, Prabud Harshitha, Gayana Geethanjana, Janaka Pathum. Sapumal Bandara, Janith Madushan, Shan Iresh, Malka Madusanka, Tharindu Madusanka, Thilina Pushpitha, Nimesh Aravinda, Lakshitha Dhananjaya, Chulan Kanishka, Ravindu Thivanka, Sanka Madushan.
Gurukula MV: Roshan Anuruddha (Capt), Nalin Perera, Hashan Dumindu, Namal Pathum, Dushan Dhanushka, Chamod Sulakshana, Lisula Lakshan, Kasun Madusanka, Shehan Lakshitha, Anjan Nimnath, Nipul Maduka, Christy Ashan, Kasun Jayasanka, Lahiru Madushan, Chanaka Dilshan, Shashin Dilranga, Lahiru Chamara.