Royal College Colombo first eleven cricket pool 2019-20. Seated L/R – Anura Prashantha (Master in Charge), Kavindu Madarasingha, M. A. M. Riaz (Senior Games Master), Thevindu Senarathne (Captain), B. A. Abeyratne (Principal), Manula Perera (Vice Captain), M. V. S. Gunathilake (Senior Deputy Principal), Ahan Wickramasinghe, Jehan Mubarak (Head Coach) Satanding Middle Row L/R – Thithira Weerasinghe, Kaushan Kulasuriya, Isiwara Disanayake, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Madushanka, Kavindu Pathirathne, Gishan Balasooriya Standing Back Row L/R – Dasis Manchanayake, Sehan Herath, Harindu Palihawadana, Sanal Amarasekera, Sineth Jayawardene, Sadeesha Rajapaksha, Prashan Silva (Picture by – Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Special Correspondent)
Fourth year coloursman, super provincial player, 2021 Sri Lanka Schools under 19 poolist, left hand lower order batsman, left arm leg spinner, , safe fielder in any position and best bowler at the 2020 Big Match Gishan Avinda Balasooriya has brought honour and immense glory to his Alma Mater Royal College, Colombo. He was born on 23rd October 2002 and admitted to this leading school in the island in 2008.
Noticing his keenness and talents in cricket from his smaller days his parents Gewantha Balasooriya and Chamila Gunasekera admitted their son to Royal College Cricket Academy when he was in Grade Four and immediately he came under Tuan Saldin. When he was in Grade Six noticing his talents he was absorbed to the School Development Squad and he came under Mr. Nimantha.
Gishan Balasooriya
In 2014 he was selected to the under 13 Division One Pool and he was a reserve player in that season and in 2015 he was selected to the under 13 Division Two team and he claimed 30 wickets and in the following year he was selected to the under 15 Division Two team and he captured 24 scalps and his coach was former Cambran Rashan Peiris and in his second year in the Division One he bagged 28 wickets.
Then in 2018 he played for the under 17 Division Two Team and captured 52 wickets with four five wicket hauls and his under 17 coaches were Kelum Fernando and Jehan Mubarak and played in the 2019 Big Match and Limited Over Match against their arch rivals S. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia.
He had a marvellous season in under 19 first eleven in 2020 capturing 71 wickets including the Big Match In the following year he played for the under 17 team and claimed 20 wickets and played for the Big Match and he grabbed six wickets in both innings and won the Best Bowler’s Award.
This year playing in the under 19 Limited Over Tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association Royalists came up to the finals and lost to St. Joseph’s College Colombo. In 2020 he played for the Colombo South for the District Tournament and for the Super Provincial Tournament and presently he is in the under 19 Sri Lanka Schools Squad.
His under 19 coach was Jehan Mubarak and the Master in Charge was Anura Prashantha and the Prefect of Games was M. A. M. Riyaz and the Principal B. A. Abeyratne is always encouraging and supportive.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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