Wayamba cricket team is a Sri Lankan first class cricket team based in Kurunegala that represents North Western Province. It draws cricketers from Sri Lanka Premier Trophy.
The team competes in two provincial tournaments:
• The first class cricket competition known as the Inter-Provincial Tournament
• The Twenty20 competition known as the Inter-Provincial Twenty20
Wayamba province cricket team became joint champions with Kandurata in the 2007/08 Inter-Provincial Limited overs tournament after the finals match drawn due to rain. They won the Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament, 2009, defeating Basnahira South to qualify for the T20 extravaganza – the Champions League. Ajantha Mendis contributes tremendously and in Jehan Mubarak, they have a captain who has enough experience to help them sail them through. The team also includes a future star for Sri Lanka – Mahela Udawatte. CLT20 is the perfect platform to unleash his batting talent.
Team Combination:
Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis and Jehan Mubarak are some of the experienced cricketers play for Wayamba province cricket team.
Though former Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardene is in the squad as his IPL team Kings XI Punjab didn’t qualify, Jehan Mubarak would captain the side. It doesn’t make sense to replace a winning captain and just like in the International’s Mahela want to concentrate on his batting.Farvez maharoof who plays for Delhi Daredevils decided to play for Wayamba, Joining the country comes first bandwagon.
Their bowling looks good with Rangana Herath who impressed everyone against New Zealand along with Ajantha Mendis (Kolkata Knight Riders) form a very impressive spin combo in sub-continent.
Perrera, Lokuarachchi, Lanka de silva all have played for Sri Lanka at the highest level.
Wayamba may not have stars that can win over the crowds and match single handedly but they have a team which can win any team with stars. Champions League will be the biggest stage for some of these players from the lesser known teams and the rewards of winning this tournament is not just monetary it opens doors for the club. Wayamba has played 14 T20 Matches, won 11 and lost 2 till date.
Wayamba Squad:
Jehan Mubarak (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Farveez Maharoof, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Jeevantha Kulathunga, Mahela Udawatte, Thisara Perera, Sameera Soysa, Shalika Karunanayake, Isuru Udana, Ishara Amerasinghe, Chanaka Welegedara, Michael Vandort.
Players’ Profile:
Jehan Mubarak:
A graceful lefthander, Jehan Mubarak represents his country at Under-15, U-17 and U-19 level. He made his debut against Bangladesh in 2002 and impressed as a replacement in South Africa with classy 48. He is a useful offspinner, an excellent fielder and also a national swimming champion.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Colombo Cricket Club, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Wayamba
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak
Ishara Amerasinghe:
Ishara Amerasinghe is the second fastest bowler in the country after Lasith Malinga, according to Coach Champaka Ramanayake. He has been a regular member of the Sri Lanka A squad since 1999, the season in which he performed outstandingly well, taking 58 wickets from 12 matches in the Premier League for Colombo Colts
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Burgher Recreation Club, Colts Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Sameera de Zoysa:
Major teams: Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club, Ragama Cricket Club, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Wayamba
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Fielding position: Wicketkeeper
Rangana Herath:
Rangana Herath is an orthodox left-arm spinner who broke into the side after an impressive A tour to England.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club, Moors Sports Club, Sri Lanka A, Surrey, Wayamba
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Slow left-arm orthodox
Mahela Jayawardene:
He is a fine middle order batsman with an excellent temperament. His career reached new heights in 2006 when he was named captain, led a 5-0 one-day whitewash over England and then scored a Sri Lankan record 374 against South Africa at the SSC in Colombo. He added 624 for the third wicket with Kumar Sangakkara – a first-class record.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Asia XI, Kings XI Punjab, Sinhalese Sports Club, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Shalika Karunanayake:
Karunanayake made his one-day debut for Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club when he was 16 and his first-class debut a season later. He represented Sri Lanka at Under-15 level and quickly became a key player in their Under-19 squad. On the 2005 tour of England he made 58 batting at No. 10, in a one-day international.
Major teams: Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club, Maliyadeva College, Sinhalese Sports Club, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Jeevantha Kulatunga:
Jeevantha Kulatunga was the surprise selection for Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 squad for the Canada Cup in October 2008. He has all-round abilities as an innovative and mentally resilient middle-order batsman capable of playing under pressure.
Major teams: Colts Cricket Club, Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club, North Central Province, Sri Lanka A, Uva Province, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Kaushal Lokuarachchi:
He had an outstanding career at St. Peter’s College where he won the best bowler’s prize and was also voted Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. He took 14 wickets in the Premier league semi-final against Colts and followed it up with a century which is the best performance of his career so far.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, Sinhalese Sports Club, Sri Lanka A, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak
Farveez Maharoof:
Farveez Maharoof is a young fast-bowling allrounder of exciting potential, and bowls lively seamers from an upright, open-chested action.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Colombo Cricket Club, Delhi Daredevils, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Sri Lanka A, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Ajantha Mendis:
Although classified as a right-arm, slow-medium bowler, Ajantha Mendis is a spinner who bowls a mixture of googlies, offbreaks, top-spinners, flippers and legbreaks.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sri Lanka Army, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak, Legbreak
Thissara Perera:
Tissara Perera a right-arm seamer opened the bowling for the U-19s and turned in noteworthy performances in the tri-nation tournament in Sri Lanka in July 2007 and in the youth Test against India in Colombo the following month.
Major teams: Colts Cricket Club, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Wayamba
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium-fast
Isuru Udana:
Udana is a talented left-arm fast-bowling allrounder. He was selected to tour South Africa with the Sri Lanka A team in August 2008 without having played a single first-class match. He was later fast tracked into the Sri Lanka squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in England the following year.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Sri Lanka Under-20s School, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Left-arm medium-fast
Mahela Udawatte:
Mahela Udawatte is a talented top-order batsman. He got his break after he joined Chilaw Marians SC straight after school. Promoted to open the batting – he had batted at No. 3 at school – he reeled off three hundreds in five matches in the 2004-05 U-23 tournament.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Chilaw Marians Cricket Club, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Academy XI, Wayamba
Playing role: Batsman
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm offbreak
Michael Vandort:
Michael Vandort, a tall left hander, emerged onto the national scene in 2001 after a string of impressive performances for Colombo Cricket Club and Sri Lanka A.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Colombo Cricket Club, Wayamba
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Chanaka Welegedara:
Welegedera learnt to play the game for St. Thomas’ College in Matale at the age of 17, but he made rapid progress performing in provincial matches. Playing for Moors SC since 2002 he bowled his club to the Premier league title in 2002-03 capturing 34 wickets (avg. 24.14) in 13 matches.
Major teams: Sri Lanka, Moors Sports Club, Sri Lanka A, and Wayamba
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Left-arm fast-medium
Author: Sandeep Gupta, New Delhi.
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