EXCLUSIVE: The extraordinary run avalanche to the magical 1000 in the very first six innings on the trot that sets out young blood in the realms of the unique has indeed found Ragama CC’s Nishan Madushka just Player of the Series reward of the concluded Sri Lanka Cricket Major League Tournament. Indeed, the 25-year old former Moratuwa MV find, has walked the walk as a young buck on the record breaking trail not once. Seven months ago, he set up another milestone. That was when he surpassed Aravinda de Silva’s 255 to set up the highest first class score of 269 by a Sri Lankan in England representing the SL Emerging XI versus Kent last April. This time around, Nishan’s 1000 run flamboyant blaze in his first six innings was built around a treble century and five hundreds including twin tons. The biggest award of the major local tournament has certainly thrust the Ragama CC star batsman manning the pivotal No. 3 slot to the forefront.
At the awards, Nishan was in the dark that he had hit the jackpot until a colleague of mine mentioned to him that he was the top recipient. On hearing the good news he was quietly elated.
Getting to 1000 runs from the first six innings of the tournament is an achievement I am really proud of,” said the Moratuwa product, another telling discovery from Sri Lanka Cricket’s Under-19 system. In an exclusive interview with Sri Lanka Cricket’s website, Nishan attributed his success to nothing but hard work. “Practice helped by good coaches from my school days is what has helped me evolve my batting technique with the right reflexes.1 am particularly indebted to my coaches Tharanga Abeyratne and Ashan de Silva,” he quipped.
The right hander singled out Kusal Mendis, who also broke out to the game from Moratuwa MV as his favourite batsman while Virat Kohli was the international player who had influenced his batting. Of course, his next foray is to realising the big dream of playing for his country. “To play for my country is my cricket dream and I look forward to performing to my optimum towards that goal,” he enthused.
Born on September 10, 1999, Kottasinghakkarage Nishan Madushka has scored 9 first class centuries and 14 half centuries aggregating 3025 runs from 36 matches and 56 innings averaging 62.82 with highest of unbeaten 300 versus the Sebastianites this year in topping his game. In List A he has 2 centuries and 5 fifties to his credit aggregating 1174 runs with highest of 165, and 713 T20 runs from 29 matches and highest of 80 not out averaging 31.00.
