Sri Lanka Under-19 look beyond victory in Worcester

Rex Clementine in Worcester

After coming off with flying colours in the two match Test series, Sri Lanka Under-19 will be looking to build on that momentum in the ODI series that gets underway today in the beautiful countryside of Worcester. Head Coach Jehan Mubarak said that he will be looking beyond victory in the three match series where development of younger players will be given priority.

The tourists had won the first Test in Chelmsford in stunning style chasing a stiff target of 273 in 58 overs and they surprised a few people when they did two changes for the second Test in Derby. Explaining the reason, Mubarak said that he wanted to give all 18 players on tour at least one game to show their potential. Going by that theory, those players who didn’t feature in the Tests are likely to get a game in the limited over matches. Worcester will host back to back games today and Thursday followed by the last game in Leicester on Saturday.

Ideally, Sri Lanka wanted a warm-up game before the ODIs but weren’t able to get one due to logistical reasons.Several players impressed during the Tests and the standout performer has been Trinity’s Ranuda  Somaratne, who flicks and hooks like Aravinda and drives and cuts like Mahela.

There was nothing flashy about St. Anthony’s Asitha Wanninayake and he looks a player ideally suited for the longer format of the game. Both boys are from Kurunegala and were picked up by Kandy schools on cricket scholarships.St. Joseph’s Shevon Daniel hails from a cricketing family with brother Jehan and uncle Ian very well known to the cricketing public and he’s got all the shots and the time to play them.

Fast bowler Duvindu Ranatunga is no relation of the nation’s famous cricketing family, as he hails from Ratnapura and not Gampaha. He landed at Mahanama College having passed  the Grade Five Scholarship. He impressed by bowling long accurate spells and smashed a quick half-century in the second Test.

Sahan Mihira from St. John’s Panadura had played little cricket on turf but adapted well hitting a few Englishmen on the head. Both quicks have come out of Sri Lanka for the first time and look promising players.Worcester is famous for two things, the traditional Worcestershire sauce and the Cathedral built in 1084 and has been dedicated blessed virgin Mary.

It’s no strange  place for Sri Lankans as Chaminda Vaas was the County’s overseas signing for several seasons. In 2005, then Board President Jayantha Dharmadasa successfully negotiated with Worcester county officials for the early release of Head Coach Tom Moody and deputy Trevor Penny to be signed up by Sri Lanka as part of the coaching staff.

The county ground has its English charms and the cakes that come out from the Ladies’ Pavilion during tea time is something that  players and fans eagerly look forward to.Graeme Hick, Tom Graveney, Basil D’Oliveira and Moeen Ali are some of the prominent cricketers to come out of this county. The venue used to host international games but has stopped doing so since 1999. Sri Lanka were the last team to play an international game here, a game that they won by four wickets.