Ravindu Rathnayake of Isipathana College Colombo turned in a fine batting performance in the Under-19 Division One inter Schools Cricket (Two day) tournament in the 2019/20 season conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.Right hand batsman Ravindu Rathnayake scored 849 runs in 16 matches with 2 centuries and 5 fifties in the last season. Ravindu Gayan Rathnayake was born on 14th February 2001. He commenced Cricket under his elder brother Heshan Rathnayake, a former cricketer who played
for Bandarawela Central College. Ravindu represented St. Thomas College Bandarawela (Uva Province) under 13 team in 2012 as a right arm medium paceman under Ananda Wijenayake. Ravindu captured 33 wickets in the first year.
Ravindu improved his batting as well under Ananda Wijenayake. He scored 460 runs and claimed 30 wickets in the under 13 tournament in 2013. He made a top score of 162 runs against Nissanka National School Badalkumbura. With each passing year Ravindu improved in his all-round skills. He scored 825 runs with four centuries and three half centuries and claimed 43 wickets with three 5 wicket hauls in 2014.
He scored 520 runs with two centuries and two half centuries and took 32 wickets in the under 15 tournament in 2015. He led the Badulla District under-15 team and Uva Province team in the Inter Provincial Prima Champions Trophy Tournament the same year. He also led these two teams in 2016. He took 12 wickets and scored 280 runs in the tournament. He represented the college under 17 team and he scored 640 runs and claimed 50 wickets in 2017. Ravindu joined Isipathana in 2018 and played in the under- 17 team.
He scored 723 runs with 2 centuries and 5 half centuries and claimed 23 wickets. He was the most valuable batsman for Isipathana in his first season. He represented Team Colombo in the Under-19 Super Provincial Tournament conducted by SLC in 2018.
He represented the 1st XI team as a fresher, he scored 960 runs and claimed 38 wickets in the 2018/19 season and. was Isipathana’s top batsman once again.
He made scores of 32 and 49 and took 4 wickets to be adjudged best all-rounder in 2019 annual big match. He represented team Kandy in the Under-19 Super Provincial Tournament conducted by SLC in 2019.
He represented Badureliya CC in first class cricket in 2018 on debut. He played the under-23 inter club tournament in 2019 for the same club.
He is grateful to former Principals of both St. Thomas’ Bandarawela and Isipathana (Premasiri Epa), former Masters-in-charges Surendra Kumar, Sahan (St. Thomas), Waruna Senanayake and E.M.R. de Saram (Isipathana), former school coaches Ananda Wijenayake (St. Thomas), Akila Madhusanka, Ferien Silva, Sanjaya Devapura, Suranga Wijenayake, Dilip Sri Vinoj and Pasindu Liyanarachchi (Isipathana), and coaches from Sri Lanka Cricket,
Highest Score: 162 against Wesley College Colombo
100’s: 2 (Wesley College Colombo and Maliyadeva College Kurunegala)
50’s: 5 (vs Lumbini Colombo 90, vs Mahinda Galle 84, vs St. Sylvester’s Kandy 51, vs St. Aloysius Galle 51, Thurstan Colombo 87)
How he fared this season
Vs Lumbini Colombo 90 &03, Vs Mahinda Galle 84, Vs Royal Colombo 07 & 01, Vs De Mazenod Kandana 14, Vs St. Benedict’s Kotahena 17, Vs St. Sylvester’s Kandy 51 & 04, Vs Wesley Colombo 162, Vs Maliyadeva Kurunegala 09 & 100*, Vs St. Joseph’s Colombo 05 & 00, Vs Mahanama Colombo 18, Vs Maris Stella Negombo 18, Vs St. Aloysius Galle 31 & 51, Vs D.S. Senanayake Colombo 38, Vs Prince of Wales Moratuwa 26, Vs Kingswood Kandy 15 & 14, Vs Thurstan Colombo 04 & 87 (YK)
By – Daily News