Two ‘Sri Lankan National Academy’ Players ‘Tharanga Paranavithana’ (SSC) and ‘Ajantha Mendis’ (Army) topped the highest batting and bowling aggregates in the recently concluded ‘Club’ Premier Cricket Tournament for 2007/8.
‘Tharanga Paranavithana’ scored (893 runs) at an average of (74.41) with (3) Centuries which included one double hundred in the nine matches played. ‘Paranavithana’ was selected to the ‘National Academy’ last year based on some noteworthy performances in the domestic Cricket season in 2006/7. During his training with the ‘Academy’ he was a member of the touring party when the Academy toured ‘Bangladesh’ and ‘India’ in 2007. ‘Paranavithana’ proved his ability beyond doubt by totaling the highest amount of runs on tour in the test series vs. Bangladesh where he averaged (67.67) with the bat with one century. He continued his good form on the same tour in the tri nation one day series which included ‘Pakistan’ by averaging (39.00). ‘Paranavithana’ who showed promise caught the selectors eye & was included to play for ‘Sri Lanka – A’ in the ‘Gopalan Trophy’ match later in the year at Colts grounds. The young man from ‘Kegalle’ grabbed this opportunity by top scoring for his team stroking a fluent (183 runs) in the four day game. ‘Paranavithana’ who is an opening batsman has shown that he could bat for long periods of times and seems to possess the ability of maintaining good concentration levels in the middle, he seems to be a player well suited in the longer version of the game.
This season was seen as one of the most successful seasons for the ‘Academy’ with regard to the area of batting, it was noted that the ‘Academy Squad’ batsman produced (12) Centuries during this tournament with (3) batsmen been amongst the first (9) players in the Country with regard to the highest aggregate of runs scored.
‘Ajantha Mendis’ has been selected to tour the ‘West Indies’ with the ‘Sri Lankan’ National team. He is the only player from the ‘Tear – B’ competition to be included in the ‘National Academy Squad. ‘Mendis’ who hails from the South represents ‘Army’ sports Club in the domestic competition. ‘Mendis’ caught the eye of the selectors in the recently concluded ‘Inter Provincial One Day Cricket Tournament, he bowled immaculately & had many of the big names in Sri Lankan Cricket at sea during this tournament. ‘Ajantha’ who has captured (68 wickets) in the Premier Cricket tournament which was just concluded is a clear (18) wickets ahead of his closest rival.
Despite this achievement the most amazing factor is the average he has taken per wicket which is a shocking (10.51) in the (9) matches played. ‘Mendis’ obtained (6) five wicket hauls & (1) ten wicket haul, he also has bowled to a tight line & length where he has maintained an economy rate of (2.18). He was a member of the ‘National Academy’ tour of ‘India’in 2007.
‘Tharanga Paranavithana’ scored (893 runs) at an average of (74.41) with (3) Centuries which included one double hundred in the nine matches played. ‘Paranavithana’ was selected to the ‘National Academy’ last year based on some noteworthy performances in the domestic Cricket season in 2006/7. During his training with the ‘Academy’ he was a member of the touring party when the Academy toured ‘Bangladesh’ and ‘India’ in 2007. ‘Paranavithana’ proved his ability beyond doubt by totaling the highest amount of runs on tour in the test series vs. Bangladesh where he averaged (67.67) with the bat with one century. He continued his good form on the same tour in the tri nation one day series which included ‘Pakistan’ by averaging (39.00). ‘Paranavithana’ who showed promise caught the selectors eye & was included to play for ‘Sri Lanka – A’ in the ‘Gopalan Trophy’ match later in the year at Colts grounds. The young man from ‘Kegalle’ grabbed this opportunity by top scoring for his team stroking a fluent (183 runs) in the four day game. ‘Paranavithana’ who is an opening batsman has shown that he could bat for long periods of times and seems to possess the ability of maintaining good concentration levels in the middle, he seems to be a player well suited in the longer version of the game.
This season was seen as one of the most successful seasons for the ‘Academy’ with regard to the area of batting, it was noted that the ‘Academy Squad’ batsman produced (12) Centuries during this tournament with (3) batsmen been amongst the first (9) players in the Country with regard to the highest aggregate of runs scored.
‘Ajantha Mendis’ has been selected to tour the ‘West Indies’ with the ‘Sri Lankan’ National team. He is the only player from the ‘Tear – B’ competition to be included in the ‘National Academy Squad. ‘Mendis’ who hails from the South represents ‘Army’ sports Club in the domestic competition. ‘Mendis’ caught the eye of the selectors in the recently concluded ‘Inter Provincial One Day Cricket Tournament, he bowled immaculately & had many of the big names in Sri Lankan Cricket at sea during this tournament. ‘Ajantha’ who has captured (68 wickets) in the Premier Cricket tournament which was just concluded is a clear (18) wickets ahead of his closest rival.
Despite this achievement the most amazing factor is the average he has taken per wicket which is a shocking (10.51) in the (9) matches played. ‘Mendis’ obtained (6) five wicket hauls & (1) ten wicket haul, he also has bowled to a tight line & length where he has maintained an economy rate of (2.18). He was a member of the ‘National Academy’ tour of ‘India’in 2007.
