Record breaking U19 Player Hasitha Boyagoda a double edged gem
Sri Lanka Under-19 Opener Hasitha Boyagoda, who made the highest score in Under 19 ODIs while batting in the match against Kenya in the ongoing World Cup in New Zealand, is also an academically bright student hailing from Trinity College, Kandy. He was the college best Advanced Level student in Commerce in 2017 in the English medium. It is an exemplary feat emulating Kumar Sangakkara who was best student in Arts in 1997, according to Trinity’s Prefect of Games, Shane de Silva. He has obtained 4 A’s in Commerce, Accounts, Economics and English and was placed second best student in the Kandy district, and 62nd island-wide.
“Hasitha is one of Trinity’s best prospects in the sporting arena as well as academics. He is a tremendous sportsman as the school’s top cricketer captaining the First XI this year and as the college Cricket Lion for scoring over 1,000 runs in 2017. That year he was vice captain. In studies he has done his alma mater proud by the singular distinction as best student,” was how the POG described Hasitha’s college performances in sports and studies.
The college POG reminisced of Hasitha as a kid who took to cricket from grades 3, 4 and 5. “He is a team player and good leader. I’ve seen him in critical situations getting the team back on top,” he quipped.
His First XI coach, Kavinda Jayasuriya identified him as a highly focussed cricketer. “As Trinity’s First XI coach for the last two years, at school level I see Hasitha as a professional cricketer. He does his homework and his mind set is very good. He reads the bowlers well. As a character, he is very straight forward. He is so well prepared that if he is told something, he would ask, why do you want me to do this? He wants to get it cut and dry about what he does, he said.
He went on to state that he saw Hasitha as a ‘big national prospect’.
“He is a good all-rounder who bowls off breaks. He was Trinity’s hero last year, having struck 91 in the big match against St. Anthony’s last year.” the coach rounded off.
Interestingly, Hasitha Boyagoda’s parents Sanjaya and Supidi are medical practitioners.
While his 191 off 152 balls put him right on top of batter achievements in under-19 ODIs, Hasitha’s effort also helped Sri Lanka Under-19 to its highest ever ODI total of 419 for 4 in routing Kenya.
Born on December 21, 1998, the young prodigy indeed carries the traits enshrined in his college Latin dictum, ‘Respice Finem’ (Look to the end) as his achievements suggest.
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-
