Kushal Perera made a quick fire 34 off 21 balls to help Wayamba pass the 200 run mark.

Sanath Jayasuriya started off well with a well timed hook shot for 6 before falling victim to Isuru Udana.

Indika De Saram was cleaned up by Isuru Udana for 19 runs.

Isuru Udana took 2 crucial wickets to ensure Wayamba’s victory over Ruhuna.

32 year old Avishka Gunawardena is head coach of MAS Kandurata team who emerged as champions of the 50 over limited over provincial tournament for the year 2010. Avishka as a player was in the same mould of Sanath Jayasuriya when he opened the batting for Sri Lanka. In 61 ODI’S he made a top score of 132 and 12 fifties to his credit. Avishka was a hard hitting opener who belted the bowling with great velocity and was a bowler’s night mare on his day. Today life for Avishka is different. Player turned coach and that’s Avishkas’ tag at the moment. He is known for his forthright thoughts and is a shrewd tactician who is guiding a talented MAS Kandurata outfit in the ongoing Provincial tournament. Avishka is a modest personality who never let fame take the better of him. He was friendly and easy to talk too even during his hay days as a international star. He will share some great times he had on and off the field, his humor is fantastic. In victory or in defeat he never fails to smile and adds spice when relating a match report.

Q :- Avishka you are the coach of a professional outfit namely MAS Kandurata who have a host of international stars in their team, how do you handle the pro’s and the  young hopefuls, do you set a different set of rules ?

A:- Rules are rules be it a pro or a young hopeful. Having stated that, it varies from person to person. In other words I have to measure Sangakkara with a different yard stick to that of a young player.

Q :- Is it fair to state that your team has the best balance in comparison to some of the other teams taking part in the provincial tournament 2010 ?

A :- I think all the teams are balanced except the young SLC combined eleven, who lack in experience but not in talent. I can read your mind, you must be thinking about the Murali and Suraj factor. Yes we have the two best spinners going around but remember we took Suraj to Kandurata when he was a armature. Today he is a man to reckon with, good for us, but for those who missed out on him, when he was freely available, well nurture your own now , if Suraj can get there why not one of your own youngsters.

Q:- Your team has played in all the venues that were selected to host the 50 over games, what is the ground from your view point that gives an equal opportunity to both batsman and bowlers ?

A:- It’s big time the NCC. For fast bowler’s bend your back and you will soar what you reap. For batsmen the ball comes on nicely to the bat, middle it and the outfield will do the rest. For spinners, it does aid their art, if they bowl in the right arrears at the right time. Having said that Moratuwa for all the spectator support.

Q:- Pallekelle is our new addition and remember this venue will host the world cup games as well, your views  on our New ground ?

A:- Look it’s a pictures venue, a great setting, lovely out field where the batters get value for their shots. If I was a bowler I would question the curator for shaving off all the grass. All in all let’s face it once it’s completed it will be state of the art.

Q:- When you played for Sri Lanka many pundits felt that you were a little too arrogant  in your approach, hence you missed out on a lot of runs, as a coach what’s your approach if a young hopeful in your team has the Avishka forbear ?

A:- Yes have the Avishka forbear you said it not I. Look I learnt my lessons when i wore a young a man’s clothes and never respected or bothered about who bowled at me. Times have changed mate. They say to catch rouge send rouge, well I can tell them a thing or two on being too aggressive and the amount of runs you miss out. So I guess I can tell them the aftermath of being too explosive before you get your eye in.

Q:-  Avishka we are producing a lot of fast bowlers however spinners seem to be a taking a back seat what do you attribute this to ?

A:- I am happy we can give the same medicine that the South Africans and the Aussies have given us all these years. Don’t forget when the West Indians had their fast bowlers our predecessors went through agony. I suppose Murali has controlled our spin department for over a decade. On sub continental pitches we played with two spinners, and the second spinner played second fiddle. Don’t worry the art is not dying haven’t you seen Sachitra Senanayake and a few young guys who have done well in the premier and the provincial tournament. Dinuk Hettiratchichi is still around struggling to find a place. There are a few spinners; they will come around provided they are given more opportunities.

Q:- We have noticed a different approach by one of your premier batsman namely Charmara Kapugedera have you done extra work with him ?

A:- It’s amazing ask Aravinda he will add more to what I’m just about to share with you. Kappu is a load of talent. Excellent bat speed, technically sound, well built to hit the ball out of the park, but mentally confused. Trevor Bayliss told me that he was given the license to do what he wants. I think I have managed to change that by telling him that with his talent he might make 10 runs in twenty five balls but will catch up his deficit if he hangs around because he can hit the ball to any part of the park when he gets his eye in. I told him not to nudge around. At practices if he is out I don’t let him carry on batting. He now knows no quarters asked no quarters given so he is getting mentally tough, he loves batting in the middle order so let’s keep him there.

Q:- Finally your thoughts on the ongoing provincial tournament ?

The quality of Cricket is excellent, but having said that we need improvement in areas such as practice wickets, better playing conditions in example better pitches. The Moratuwa finals were great but I wish we had a better pitch to play on.

The Hon. Minister of Sports & Public Recreation has granted approval for the following team to be in the pool for ICC World Cup T/20 .

1. Kumar Sangakkara
2. T.M. Dilshan
3. Sanath Jayasuriya
4. Mahela Jayawardana
5. Chamara Kapugedara
6. Anjelo Mathews
7. Chinthaka Jayasinghe
8. Thisara Perera
9. Muttiah  Muralidharan
10. Ajantha Mendis
11. Suraj Randiv
12. Lasith Malinga
13. Dilhara Fernando
14. Nuwan Kulasekera
15. Thilina Thushara
16. Chanaka Welagedara
17. Suranga Lakmal
18. M Mahroof
19. Isuru Udana
20. Malinga Bandara
21. Mahela Udawatta
22. Lahiru Thirimanna
23. Dinesh Chandimal
24. M. Pushpakumara
25. Kaushal Weeraratne
26. Kaushal Silva
27. Chamara Silva
28. Upul Tharanga
29. Jeewan Mendis
30. Nuwan Soyza

After a quiet period it’s now time to move on again and gather momentum in Sri Lanka’s quest to be the best. The Sri Lankans headed home in mid-January having had enough of India, but with smiles on their faces. Of course, the rest and the opportunity to regroup and attend to any niggles, as well as time with the families and friends, was something to look forward to. But the real joy was wining in Bangladesh and the promise shown during what was two very tough months.

I watched the Under 19 World Cup and now the provincial tournament in progress with lot of interest. This is where the bar should be raised if we are to back up the promise shown and kick on. It’s not in the international stage that the guys should be learning the finer points, but at the domestic level. So bridging the gap between the two levels is important.

Sri Lanka were hot and cold down in New Zealand. On their day they would take anyone apart, but sadly they did falter often too. Bhanuka Rajapakse was the one who caught my eye. He bats with so much ease and flair, reminding me of a young Mahela. What was most pleasing, even though they went down, was the fight in the semi final.

With not much to defend and in good batting conditions they made life very difficult for the Aussies. Indeed, if they’d been a little smarter in the field they might have even sneaked home. The missed run out of Mitch Marsh, the son Geoff and brother of Shaun, was crucial.

Back at home it was now time for the Provincial tournament to kick off. All the big guns were available, except for Dilshan who had injured a finger. There have been a few performances to take note of in the 50 over version, but no real consistency from any player. No chance of cart wheel’s at this stage on the performances. MAS Kandurata, the team with the most consistent performers in all positions, walked away with the cup in the limited overs version. Kaushalya Weeraratne’s role at the top of the order did make a difference and he did not do any harm to his chances by showing that he could do a different job if needed to. Still, it needed Kumar (Sangakkara) to dig deep to seal the deal. Credit to his motivational skills considering all that’s going on around him for clearly being so up for this one. The message is clear from the National Captain though.

The young guns like the Chandimal’s and Thirimanne’s failed to put any great pressure on the selectors. The same was true of Sanath Jayasuriya. There were a couple of good knocks along the way, but I am afraid he has not taken the matter out of the selectors hands. Chandimal, of course, seems to be enjoying himself in the 20/20 version though and is up there in the list of performers. Jeewantha Kulathunga who was my team mate in the Sri Lanka Under 19’s  way back in 1993 too has been in good form for Wayamba scoring a hundred in both forms and leading the assault.MAS Kandurata crashed in the semi-final as their attempt to be unpredictable all the time back fired. Kaushalya Weeraratne not opening in the T20’s after his good run at the top was strange to me.Malinga Bandara and Janaka Gunaratne have also been very steady performers.

Though Sri Lanka might be a fair way away from putting a team out on the park it definitely is time the guys did shine as this would be the last real opportunity. The IPL and then the World Twenty20 are next, but at home a place in the coveted Champions League has once again been snapped up by Wayamba with Mahela saving the best for the last and Ajantha Mendis ripping through Ruhuna who were always up against it once the runs were on the board, but for Mendis his figures would be just what he needed to get that sting into his game again.

Sri Lankan players of late have been in demand and first choice in various competitions around the world. Most states in Australia had lined up players for the Big Bash in early 2010 but national duties took them away. Dilshan, who decided to go to New Zealand, has been the most sought after with almost all states in Australia lining up for him for 2011. It will be interesting to see if he will be available with the World Cup around the corner. Player managers or agents who play a big role in sport these days are useful to take the pressure off the player and let him focus on playing. They have many things to consider when helping players, including securing the best commercial deal, the player’s own brand image, his development as a player and the long-term future. Sadly, most agents only consider the “money” column.

Elsewhere the 200 run mark by an individual batsman was reached. After 20 years in international cricket, it is remarkable that Sachin still has the stamina and desire. I would have thought it would be a Sehwag or Jayasuriya-style player to be first to make a double ODI ton because of their high scoring rates, but it’s been achieved by the best in the business and it just keeps getting better and better for Sachin.

Down Under Australia were never tested by Pakistan and the West Indies and it was quite a boring summer with the only highlights being how Pakistan lost the Second Test in Sydney and Afridi trying to eat the leather. Afridi of late has shown greater maturity and is more valuable as a bowler. In fact, a very good bowler. The boom-boom part of it we rarely see and I fail to understand the tag “Boom boom” .Watching him as captain, he had just started to impress with his energy and leadership when he bit the leather. Many blame the Dinner at  The WACA for his reaction.

West Indies were certainly let down by Chris Gayle who struggled to get going, especially against Bollinger. This took my thoughts to the past and realised that Sri Lanka hardly suffered at the hands of Gayle and the bowler who dismissed him most was Vaas.

At last with New Zealand in the past few days we’ve seen a team hell-bent on being positive were able to put Australia under pressure. McCullum’s innovation and the power of White was extraordinary while Shaun Tait, who not so long ago delivered the 2nd fastest ball ever recorded, was very poor under pressure.The contests between the two rivals have always been very competitive and probably the more you put Australia under pressure the more you will see reactions similar to that of Johnson too. The next team to test Australia at home will be the Lankans in October.

SLC’s I.T Division and Mobitel has joined hands to test its live video streaming technology (Webcast & Mobicast), tomorrow by covering the 81st battle between Ananda & Nalanda live via its website www.srilankacricket.lk.

The coverage will also be available to all Mobitel subscribers by simply dialing 555 from their Mobitel phone and selecting option 7 (M3 Live). The battle of the maroons will be the 1st option available in the sub menu.

The video production will be provided by Lanka Business Solutions on behalf of SLC, while SLC’s MIS partner Agile Solutions will provide the viewers all match information via its automated Cricket scoring system.

SLC and Mobitel hope to bring many more Cricketing spectacles to the eyes of its fans upon successful completion of the test transmission.