Sri Lanka Under-19, captained by St. Peter’s College all-rounder Chathura Peiris, left for the ICC Youth World Cup to be held in New Zealand early morning Friday (8) just hours after returning from the tri-nation tournament in South Africa.
Despite lackluster performances in the tri-nation tournament in South Africa where they lost three matches (two against India and one against South Africa) and recorded a solitary victory, the team was confident that they could do well in the biennial tournament which starts on January 15th in Christchurch.
"It was a good exposure before the World Cup. We met tough teams and played in conditions similar to those in Christchurch. Although we lost a few matches, the experience is invaluable for us to do well in the World Cup," Peiris told the ‘Sunday Island’ at the SLC headquarters.
"We have a strong side. They did well during our preparations and I think that we could be a challenge to any team in the world cup," Peiris said before the team’s departure to Christchurch.
Sri Lanka fields a strong team that had success against Australia in a five-match ODI series (won 3-2) and won a tri-nation tournament involving Bangladesh and Pakistan in Colombo.
Sri Lanka has a strong batting line-up and a balanced bowling department.
Sri Lanka Team
Royal College duo Bhanuka Rajapakse and Kithruwan Vithanage, Mahinda College duo Denuwan Rajakaruna and Rumesh Buddhika, Ananda College opener Udara Jayasundara and Peterite wicket-keeper batsman Andri Berenger makes a formidable batting line-up.
Akshu Fernando (spinner) and Danushka Gunathilaka (paceman) are the all-rounders in the side while bowling spearheads Chathura Peiris and Charith Jayampathi could also be handy as late middle-order batsmen. Peiris and Jayampathi are also the most experienced players in the team having represented Sri Lanka Under-19 since 2007. While Peiris played in the last World Cup in Malaysia, Jayampathi missed the opportunity due to an injury.
The selectors gave exposure to as many as six pacemen in the preparatory tournaments held in Sri Lanka and overseas aiming at packing the bowling department with good pacemen for the World Cup. They picked former Christ Church College bowling spearhead Lahiru Jayaratne (now St. Peter’s) and Kasun Madusanka (St. Servatius), on their impressive performances in the said tournaments to join Peiris, Jayampathi and Gunathilaka to make a strong pace bowling battalion.
Although conditions in New Zealand is conducive for pacemen, spinners Rushan Jaleel, Saranga Rajaguru and Maduka Liyanapathiranage have shown in the last three tournaments, where Sri Lanka took part in, that they could be match winners of the side.
Sri Lanka will play in Group ‘C’ which includes hosts New Zealand, Zimbabwe and ICC associate member nation Canada and their recent form suggests that finding a place in the Super Eight stage wouldn’t be a difficulty for them as they have to edge out just two teams to achieve that feat.
SL Team:
Chathura Peiris (Captain - St. Peter’s), Kithruwan Vithanage(V. Captain - Royal), Udara Jayasundara (Ananda), Andri Berenger (St. Peter’s), Bhanuka Rajapakse (Royal), Rumesh Buddhika (Mahinda), Denuwan Rajakaruna (Mahinda), Akshu Fernando (St. Peter’s), Danushka Gunathilaka (Mahanama), Rushan Jaleel (Trinity), Saranga Rajaguru (Nugawela Central), Maduka Liyanapathiranage (Lumbini - formerly President’s), Charith Jayampathi (D.S. Senanayake), Lahiru Jayaratne (St. Peter’s - formerly Christ Church) and Kasun Madusanka (St. Servatius’).
