Is Madushanka the next Chaminda Vaas? | Sunday Observer

Is Madushanka the next Chaminda Vaas?

23 February, 2020
Dilshan Madushanka
Dilshan Madushanka

Dilshan Madushanka, the experts say, has got a good future ahead of him after he grabbed three crucial wickets for a Sri Lanka Cricket X1 against the touring West Indies team during a warm-up match early this week.

Having returned with the Under-19 team that contested the Youth World Cup in South Africa, Madushanka was deployed in the one-dayer at the P Sara Oval and in his first over he bagged the wicket of West Indies opener Branden King and in his second spell dismissed Kieron Pollard and Jason Holder.

He finished the game pocketing three wickets after going into the match with his head held high having taken 13 wickets during the Under-19 World Cup.

Madushanka was first spotted playing for Hungama Vijayaba National School by district coach Manjula Karunaratne who wasted no time in introducing the teenage left arm paceman to veteran Chaminda Vaas.

Madushanka initially never realised the potential in his career as he used to play softball cricket on the sidelines of his village with friends. “I invited him to come for a district coaching camp and he got an opportunity to play in the inter district tournament which was his first competion. He got eight wickets with one five wicket haul,” said Karunaratne.

But Karunaratne realised Madushanka was capable of bigger things having started off as a net-bowler who was merely invited to bowl at the Sri Lanka Under-19 batsmen at practices at the Mahinda Rajapaksa stadium in Hambantota.

That day marked the turning point for Madushanka who did not have even a suitable pair of boots. But Vaas wasted no time and took Madushanka under his wings as he enlisted him to join the Sri Lanka Under-19 squad at practices in Colombo from where he booked a place in the national team.

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