Yasiru Hewandugala first Rahulian to capture 100 wickets in a season

Wednesday, 19 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Text and pix by P.D. De Silva 16-year-old right arm off spin bowler Yasiru Hewanadugala is the first to capture 100 wickets in a season for Rahula College Matara. Yasiru has eight five wicket hauls to date and match bags of 10 on two occasions the best being 12/81 against Tissa Central College Kalutara. Yasiru captured his 100th wicket in the first innings of the game against St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya on Monday (17). He has bowled 377 overs with 92 maiden overs and conceded 947 runs for 103 wickets.

Yasiru, an all-rounder, is a stylish left hand batsman who has a 50 to his credit this season, learnt his basics from junior coach Indunil Liyanage and is being guided by Rahula College’s senior coach Rohana Ariyathilake now. He captained the under 13 and under 15 teams at Rahula and in most probability should lead the under 17 team this year and the first XI in the future. Although Yasiru was a member of the Matara District squad for the under 15 Prima Trophy tournament in 2012 he was left out of the playing 11 by district coach Prasanna Galappaththi who believes he has a faulty bowling action. The irony of it is that Yasiru has never been called for chucking by an umpire in the past.