After playing hard ball cricket for over half century Central College, Wadduwa are just two matches away from booking a berth in the Division I category in the Under-17 Tournament for the first time.

A 128 run victory against Henry Olcott Vidyalaya last week helped them end the second round unbeaten and it confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Under-17 Division II tournament for the first time. Playing in their debut Division II tournament, they have reached the knockout stage with ease losing just one match (to St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa in the first round) in the tournament.

Playing without four key members who helped them reach the final of the Division III tournament last year, Wadduwa Central have done well in the tournament with sufficient support coming from the rest of the experienced players and the freshers.

Continuing the good form they showed in the Division III tournament last year, they have confirmed that the success achieved last season was not a mere coincidence. But now as they inch close to securing a Division I elevation, their stamina will be tested in two crucial games where the slightest of mistakes will edge them out and spoil the months of hard work. "It is hard to imagine that Wadduwa Central, who have played hard ball cricket for over 50 years has not played in the Division I tournament. And now we are on the threshold of entering that category. This elevation is something that is very important for Wadduwa Central and for the current players who have done so well. And we hope to do our best to see that we do not fail at this crucial hurdle," Rishan Sajith, the coach of Wadduwa Central told ‘The Island’.

Wadduwa Central has been in the limelight during the last two years as their cricketers impressed in junior tournaments (13, 15 and 17). Rishan Sajith, the coach and E. A. Kenath, the Master in Charge with the help of the administrators of the school have taken a keen interest in promoting cricket despite lacking the requisite infrastructure, which is common to most of the Division II and III schools.

The school has two skippers for this Under-17 season, namely Yasasri Alwis and Chathura Mihiruk who take turns in captaining.

While Mihiruk is their leading run scorer with 196 runs in four innings, all rounder Hashan Lakmal is their leading wicket taker with 16 wickets which includes a nine wicket haul against Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama.

Success in the next two matches will elevate the school to the Division I tournament where they will be able to play against some of the best teams in the school circuit. However, many lowly placed schools who earned the Division I spot during rare periods of success, have later dropped to the former divisions because of inconsistency. The secret behind the success of many teams who earned elevation has been the dedication of their coaches and MiCs whose transfers affected the performance of the teams. The lack of interest of those who helped the school financially has also contributed to such collapses.

But officials of Wadduwa Central are confident that they could show the same consistency as they have laid the foundation by forming a good junior squad who would form the schools junior teams later. Coach Rishan Sajith too has guided Danushka Ranmuthu, a school cricketer to be an understudy to him to take charge of coaching in his absence.

The result of their last match

Beat Henry Olcott Vidyalaya, Kolonnawa by 128 runs

Wadduwa 263 all out in 47.5 overs (Chathura Mihiruk 92, Iranga Dilshan 65, Amila Nishan 21, Akila Madushan 18; N.C. Ranasinghe 4/51, S.M. Perera 2/31)

Henry Olcott Vidyalaya, Kolonnawa 135 all out in 34.5 overs (A.S. Perera 59, A.T. Dilshan 16; Yasasri Alwis 3/21, Sameera Madusanka 3/25, Hashan Lakmal 2/40)