Phoenix-like Kurunegala Youth savour the Plate

The Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club squad comprising Sameera Sandamal (captain), Danushka Dharmasiri, Yohan Maddage, Kasun Ekanayake, Rashmika Madushanka, Manoj Sarathchandra (wicketkeeper), Aravinda Premaratne, Lakshan Edirisinghe, Dinushka Malan, Lakvin Abeysinghe, Lochana Somaratne, Nadith Dissanayake, Gayan Maneeshan, Gayana Weerasinghe, Chamod Sandaru, Lahiru Jayaratne, Dilhara Polgampala, Madhava Warnapura, Chamikara Edirisinghe, Ranitha Liyanaarachchi, Randheera Ranasinghe and Dulanjala Mendis pose for a ceremonial picture

By Dharshana Balasuriya

Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club led by Sameera Sandamal won the Major Club Plate Championship first class tournament as they made a stunning comeback from the dumps to turn tables on their rivals after entering the final round as the team to finish last in their group.

Kurunegala Youth finished behind Badureliya and Tamil Union in their group but in the second round outperformed their rivals.

From the other group Panadura SC, Nugegoda SC and Chilaw Marians entered the Plate competition. 

In the deciding round Kurunegala Youth remained unbeaten to secure the title.

In the final match they defeated Chilaw Marians by five wickets at the Surrey ground, Maggona.

Kurunegala Youth’s highest total in the tournament was 404 against Tamil Union at the NCC ground, with Gayan Maneeshan (160) and Sameera Sandamal (106) scoring centuries. Maneeshan missed the final match due to an injury.

Skipper Sameera Sandamal was the key all-rounder for Kurunegala Youth scoring 335 runs in 15 innings, including a century while taking 14 wickets. 

His best innings was 106 off 153 balls against Tamil Union while his best bowling figures were 3 for 26 against Moors SC.

Sandamal has played in 53 first-class matches scoring 1,967 runs with five centuries and four half-centuries while also taking 41 wickets.

Lakshan Edirisinghe also impressed for Kurunegala Youth registering a century and three half-centuries. He also hit the most boundaries for the team, accounting for 48 fours and 15 sixes.

Another player Chamikara Edirisinghe did well with the ball recording best figures of 6 for 91 against BRC and match figures of 7 for 158 against Badureliya.

Wicketkeeper Manoj Sarathchandra excelled behind the stumps with 16 catches and seven stumpings, the best by a wicketkeeper in the tournament.

Young openers Yohan Maddage and Lakvin Abeysinghe shared a vital 136-run partnership in the final against Chilaw Marians.

Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club’s title-winning campaign was further strengthened by the guidance of head coach Prasad Ranawaka and manager Ajith Ekanayake, whose backstage leadership played a key role in the team’s success.