Johanne joy of Joes | Sunday Observer
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Johanne joy of Joes

1 March, 2020
Johanne De Zilva
Johanne De Zilva

The young blood in the Joes cricket captain down Darley Road, Johanne De Zilva, made a forthright remark that he was going to be a hero and the hero in him was born eventually when St. Joseph’s College dismantled Ananda College with a sublime spell of six for 36 last week.

Ananda only deteriorated, falling from bad to worse, failing miserably to withstand De Zilva’s devastating spell, where he picked up his counterpart stand-in captain- Saviru Bandara too.

A day dedicated to him only improved to be a classic example of the leader of the pack leading the way, playing as the destroyer-in-chief and a pre-quarter final booking performance.

“After we beat Ananda on the first innings I wanted to win the game itself as the captain and I want my team to be the best team of the year.

“I want many outright wins under my name and give my best to the team and make the trophy belong to us,” De Zilva told the Sunday Observer, after a convincing first innings win against St. Annes College, Kurunegala where his team progressed one step more to the pre-quarters.

The 19-year old is expecting their pre-quarter contest to be played after the big match against St. Peter’s College likely against Mahanama College or Richmond College.

De Zilva along with the many features in his hat is now working towards becoming the captain of the best team of the year too.

“Man-management is easier because I’m not a regular bowler in the side. I bowl when the team needs me because I play as an opening batsman and an opening bowler. My main role is opening the batting,” he explained.

Though he had been limiting his spells to four or five overs, De Zilva intends to do more bowling against the Peterites.

“I had a few injuries those days, so I was not into bowling. I was more concentrating on batting,” recalled De Zilva.

“I’m a guy who will play to the team’s situation. If a quick 50 is needed from me I will go for it. If I need to stay at the wicket, I will survive, stay and save the match. If it’s a pressure situation I just want to believe in myself and have the confidence and put the College name high.

“I like batting but when I’m pumped up, I enjoy bowling and the Joe-Pete is more important.”

Asked to choose his own version between captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews who are all products of St. Joseph’s College, De Zilva preferred to reserve his comments for another day.

He initially learnt his cricket by playing with his brother Reshika who attended a cricket academy and taught him everything he learnt.

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