What the star performers say – SLC Super Four Provincial Tournament

SUPER PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT

Roshen Silva, who scored a marathon 231 for Galle against Colombo, said that he had role modelled his batting much on former Australian captain Steve Waugh. “Waugh was not an extraordinary batsman but out in the middle he was a tough competitor which is a virtue I admire and have developed in my repertoire,” said Roshen who contended that this temperament had equipped him to play long innings.

As to his knock, Roshen, said, “It was an unforgettable knock. Four wickets had fallen for 22 and I was pitted against the new ball and I was able to contribute to make the total of 400 by getting 200-plus. I’m really proud of it. I lost about two kilos by that nine-hour effort where was hot and humid with the ball seaming and swinging against some quality bowlers. I was playing in a provincial tournament after 8 years having last played in 2010 when we won the championship.”

Roshen added that a strongpoint in his success formula in going for big scores was not to play unwanted shots.

Sachithra Serasinghe, who struck 112 for Dambulla against Galle, said, “To get a hundred is not easy off the pink ball and therefore I consider this a very special landmark in my career. Having achieved 1000 runs and 35 wickets this domestic season, I believe my career has really peaked. I do like the way Sachin Tendulkar bats, but believe in playing to my own style although I watch his footage a lot. My one dream of course is to represent my country and do hope and pray that my 19 first class centuries with an average of 44.31 and this latest feat in the Super Provincial would have caught the eyes of the selectors.”

Lahiru Thirimanne, who struck 125 for Colombo against Galle, said, “I got this century in the first match of the tournament where the cream of domestic talent is pitted. I do consider it a big achievement because it was against quality bowling attack. In such a competitive match I reached the three figure mark where there were no loose balls. Mainly I consider it as an important effort at that level to have scored a century in the first innings of the first match of the tournament. Furthermore this tournament is special being a super one after the main club format.”

Ashan Priyanjan, representing the Dambulla team said that he valued his 156 versus Kandy as a great achievement as he did so batting against the duke ball.

“I think it is one the best innings I’ve played in domestic cricket at the topmost level. It was difficult at the beginning as the ball was moving around and therefore I had to play straighter,” he said.

Priyanjan, who was unfortunate to miss a second century in the tournament when he was for 96 in the last match, said that ‘my one ambition is to represent my country in test cricket one day.’ Stating that his role model was South African  A. B. de Villiers, Priyanjan said, “I have never played test cricket and hopefully I wish that dream would come true for which I’m working hard on my batting by the day.”

Sachithra Senanayake, who made 105 for Dambulla against Kandy, said, “I consider my century effort against Kandy as the best in my domestic career because it was against a strong bowling attack comprising Lahiru kumara and Kasun Rajitha. It was special to me. I’m playing for a purpose to get a national recall and to get it soon.”

Mahela Udawatte of Kandy, who scored 103 against Dambulla, said that scoring a century facing the duke ball was a great experience and that doing so in a tournament that pitted the cream of domestic talent did underline the value input in the knock.

“In the circumstances, by achieving a century in such a tournament I’m happy that I made use of such an opportunity,” Udawatte said adding that ‘I’ve been working really hard on my batting and really confident in trying to get better and better to score more runs.’

Lahiru Gamage, who claimed ten wickets with a best of 5 for 65 against  Dambulla in the tournament in becoming the joint leading bowler along with Rajitha who also collected ten wickets thus far, said, “It was really an achievement to treasure taking ten wickets in this super tournament bowling at the cream of local talent and I trust my efforts will find just reward for a national recall.”

Kasun Rajitha of Kandy, commenting on his ten wickets with a best of 4 for 67 against Colombo, said, “I am overjoyed to have taken so many wickets in sharing the top slot in bowler standings along with Lahiru Gamage upto now. I trust this performance would pave the way for a national call up which is my cricketing dream.”

By Srian Obeyesekere

-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-