The AusLanka team, back from left, coach Ravi Ratnayeke, Blake, Ben, Malaka, Clive, Ruvi, Max, and front, Dilshan, Tharindu, Kevin, Dimitri and George, played against visiting Sri Lankan school St Joseph’s College at Donnelly Reserve on Sunday. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Marc McGowan
CRANBOURNE enjoyed a subcontinental flavour on Sunday as visiting Sri Lankan school St Joseph’s College locked horns with the local AusLanka Cricket Academy at Donnelly Reserve.
It was St Joseph’s College – bolstered by the presence of three under 19 Sri Lankan World Cup representatives – that emerged triumphant, passing AusLanka’s meagre total of 96 in just 23 overs and for the loss of only one wicket.
Australian under 19 star and Casey-South Melbourne left arm orthodox spinner Clive Rose competed for AusLanka.
Rose’s cousin Brendan top-scored for the home side with a well-compiled 29.
Former Sri Lankan players Ravi Ratnayeke, 48, and Manjula Munasinghe, 36, coached AusLanka, having established the specialist cricket academy nearly two years ago.
AusLanka trains all-year round at Melbourne Cricket Centre’s two indoor bases in Fountain Gate and Clayton.
Vernon Tissera, whose sons George, 16, and Kevin, 14, played for AusLanka, is full of praise for the academy.
“They develop their ability and teach them how to play the game. The main aim is to develop good players for the future for Victoria and Australia,” he said.
“The players show a lot of improvement when they come back to club level.”
The performance of St Joseph’s College – Sri Lankan great Chaminda Vaas’ former school – impressed Tissera and he expects the AusLanka players to learn a great deal from the 35 over a side outing.
“The game was played in good spirit and our boys received good exposure,” he said.
“The St Joseph boys train five days a week, and while they were watching the match they were very active and their fielding was very powerful.”
St Joseph’s College has a strong rivalry with fellow Sri Lankan school St Peter’s College and beat the latter for the first time in more than three decades this year.
The school’s coach promised his players a trip to Australia if they were able to achieve the feat.
