Kingswood on the road to recovery

By Aubrey Kuruppu

The good news from Randles Hill is that Kingswood College cricket is on the road to recovery. After a disastrous period two years back, Kingswood was relegated. Last season, they began the process of rehabilitation with two outright wins and the first innings lead on five occasions. The youngster charged with a big responsibility as skipper is third year player Kasun Bandara. He had a fair season last year with over 350 runs and twenty five wickets with his medium paces. Kasun has shown that he can get the players under him to perform. Another third year Shaluka Walisundara is one from whom the team expects a lot of news. A left hander who likes to attack, he made a good half century against Vidyartha. He occupies the first drop position. Supun Bandara was the leading run-getter in 2011/12 with a couple of fifties and nearly 400 runs. He made a stylish half century against Big Match rivals Dharmaraja. He bowls useful off spin. Randika Wijeratne opens the batting with Dulanjana Themiya. Both of them are quite capable of getting the team off to a good start. Themiya is also the stumper of the side. Prabath Jayawickrema and Dilshan Edirisinghe are in charge of the new ball. This right arm. left arm pairing can be quite effective. Dananjaya Monarawila is a cricketer with some experience behind him. He must step up to the plate. Off spinner Tharindu Liyanage is, without doubt, the stand out bower. He had six five wicket bags last season and bids fair to go beyond that. He has started the season well bagging 5 for against Cary and Maliyadeva. He turns the ball quite sharply. Left arm spinner Asanka Bandara is another in the five for category. He bats left hand. Too much is expected from all rounders Champika Aluvihara and Menaka Lankatilleka. Kingswood has a load of off spinners, of whom Shanika Werasinghe shows some promise. Ravindu Maduranga, a Leggie, adds variety to the attack. Kingswood has beaten Vidyar

tha on first innings but lost to Carey on first innings. Their game against the strong Maliyadeva team ended in a no decision, though things didn't go their way. A former Kingswood and Kandy youth left arm medium pacie Tirana Gamage coaches the side. Long-serving Sunil Herath continues as MIC. Kingswood has tournament games against Kegalu Vidyalaya, St. Thomas' Matale, Ibbagamuwa, St. Patrick's Jaffna, Bandaranaike MV Gampaha and St. John's Panadura, remaining.