Birendra de Silva performs well in cricket

Birendra de Silva - son of former cricketer and coach Bandula de Silva has been performing well with the bat and as a wicket-keeper in the Salem District tournament in India.

A former student of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Birendra played in the under 13, 15 and 17 tournaments for S. Thomas', but more keen on his studies, he did not continue with cricket after having played for the under 17 team at S. Thomas.

After going to India and joining Sona College of Technology in Salem, India which is affiliated to the Anna University, Birendra came back into cricket.

He is doing his final year in Information Technology Degree. He came back into cricket and soon became the most popular and much loved cricketer. Birendra started playing in the Salem District 30-over tournament representing his college in 2005. In 2007 he was picked as captain and he showed his capabilities by leading his team to victory in the 2007 Championship.

Birendra is the first overseas student to captain the school cricket team.

Like father Bandula, Birendra is an attacking opening batsman with strokes all round the wicket. He is a wicket-keeper and has claimed around 100 victims in 32 matches.

As a batsman, he played a captain's innings of 78 in the final of the district tournament that helped his side win the championship.

Birendra has now been picked to paly for the Anna University in India in provincial matches.

Performances: 1 st year (2005) played 13 matches, scored 507 runs with eight half-centuries, 35 victims as wicket-keeper.

2nd year: (2006) played 11 matches, scored 467 runs with one century and five half-centuries. 30 victims behind the wickets.

3rd year (2007) captain of team and played 8 matches, scored 513 runs with two centuries and three half centuries. 35 victims behind the wickets.