We as a team not really performed well at the start of the school season while I also missed few matches due to National duty but our team spirit was very high and that was the key to our success said Richmond College cricket skipper Malsha Tharupathi in an exclusive interview with Daily News.
We really wrked hard under the guidance of our coach Lakmal de Silva and his supporting staff and we had confidence to beat Trinity in the final and we did it in great style . As a team we got together and built up team spirit and that always is important to play this game successfully .Last year we met same Trinity team at one day final and unfortunately lost to them but after that defeat we built up good morale and confidence we wanted to show our potential as a team and I must say this was a team effort not due to individual brilliance said Tharupathi who was the Under 19 National team deputy skipper.
I played two Under 19 world cups and got really good exposure while International experience is very vital for me .I never think about captaincy . Leadership does not put pressure on me and I used to play my normal game added Tharupathi .
We as a team for the first time got chance to play at SSC .As a player I had early experience at SSC wickets but all other players first time played at SSC at this final and it was good exposure for them .I think SSC wicket most of the time favours batsmen and the ground staff headed by chief curator Mahesh Bopage worked hard to give good wicket and we really appreciate it .We got huge challenge as bowling first after winning the toss .We knew most of the schools winning toss side decided to bat first .But I had good confidence with our bowlers to restrict Trinity early to make good challenge.
As a spinner I never bowled more overs and depended on my wicket taking bowlers .I knew my other spinners also could do the damage .Even the young leg spinner Yuri Koththigoda also used to bowl in pressure situations and he got rid of Supun Waduge ‘ for 92 and Sihath Ramanayake the paceman Sheron Abhishek and Kaveesha Induwara really bowled well .
Our batting is very good with number 1 to 9 batters in good form while opener Nikil Jayaweera scored a brilliant century which gave first innings lead to take this championship.Jayaweera also entered the record books as the first Richmond batsman to score a century at SSC and it was a huge achievement said skipper Malsha Tharupathi.and winning the school under 19 division One Tier A championship was a great feat.
Nikil couldn’t achieve much earlier but I had full confidence he could do so at the final.We never depended from one player .All players came to the fore at the matches .We saw Koththigoda taking 5 wickets against Mahinda in one dayer . Pradeeptha scored very fine 191 at the semi final against St Sebastians.All players knew their responsibility .I am happy to
end my school career with the Under 19 Division one Tier A Championship in our schools 148 year history .I had privilege to make a 70 ball hundred in the big match and that was the fastest hundred in our Battle of the Lovers but I never thought about any records and played for the team .I started cricket from Madampe Central College and after O/L s crossed over to Richmond which the turning point of my cricket career .My coach Lakmal de Silva gave good support .My father also played cricket for Madampe Central and I followed his footsteps and wanted to reach National level which is my ultimate goal .
At the stage my parents really encouraged me while my coach Lakmal previous Richmond coach Dhammika Sudharshana,our under 19 fast bowling coach Chamila Gamage ,under 19 spin coach Sachith Pathirana ,National under 19 coach Jehan Mubarak and all other coaches gave good support to me .My college Principal M.S Pushpakumara College staff present boys, old boys and my team mates .I am thankful to Richmond National players Wanindu Hasaranga,Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dhananjaya Lakshan who inspired me to follow their footsteps.After leaving school I wanted to play club cricket and presently play for Moors SC and want to continue concluded Malsha .
Dhammika Ratnaweera
