Trinity’s Dinuka selected for Under 19 Asian Cup

Hirun recalled after impressive performance for St. Joseph’s

by Reemus Fernando

Trinity College spinner Dinuka Tennakoon has found a place in the Sri Lanka Under 19 team for the upcoming Under 19 Asia Cup while St. Joseph’s College opener Hirun Kapurubandara has been recalled after being sidelined for the previous youth assignment.

Left-arm spinner Tennakoon is the only new face in the 17-man squad selected for the regional event which starts on Friday in Dubai. Tennakoon picked up two wickets and joined Jayavi Liyanagama to see Trinity pursue a difficult chase to defend the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket title against St. Joseph’s recently. Supun Waduge who played a crucial role with the bat for Trinity during the knockout stage of the said tournament is included in the team as a traveling reserve.

The Joes opener Kapurubandara who was dropped for the last Sri Lanka Under 19 assignment was in red hot form for his school during the recently held Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament. Kapurubandara maintained a Bradmanesque average and helped St. Joseph’s reach the final.

Royal College batsman Sineth Jayawardena is the captain of the Sri Lanka Under 19 team which will compete in Group ‘B’ where Bangladesh, UAE and Japan are the other teams. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal are drawn in group ‘A’.

Richmond College all-rounder Malsha Tharupathi is the most experienced player in the team. He will be the deputy to Jayawardena.

While there are two players each from St. Peter’s and Trinity, Vishwa Lahiru (Sri Sumangala College, Panadura), Garuka Sanketh (Lyceum International School, Wattala) and Ravishan de Silva (P de S. Kularatne College, Ambalangoda) make the presence of lower division schools felt.

The team will depart for Dubai on December 6.

Sri Lanka U19 Squad:

Sineth Jayawardena (Captain – Royal College, Colombo), Pulindu Perera (Dharmaraja College, Kandy), Vishen Halambage (St. Peter’s College, Colombo), Ravishan de Silva (P. De S. Kularathna Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda), Sharujan Shanmuganathan (St. Benedict’s College, Colombo), Dinura Kalupahana (Mahinda College, Galle), Malsha Tharupathi (Vice-Captain – Richmond College, Galle), Vihas Thevmika (Thurstan College, Colombo), Vishwa Lahiru (Sri Sumangala College, Panadura), Garuka Sanketh (Lyceum International School, Wattala), Duvindu Ranatunga (Mahanama College, Colombo), Hirun Kapurubandara (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo), Rusanda Gamage (St. Peter’s College, Colombo), Dinuka Tennakoon (Trinity College, Kandy), Ruvishan Perera (Ananda College, Colombo)

Travelling Reserves:

Supun Waduge (Trinity College, Kandy), Janith Fernando (Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa)