By Srian Obeyesekere

Young 20-year old off spinner Traveen Mathew had a truly fairytale dream start to his cricket career breaking into big stage creating a notable impact claiming 12 wickets in the recently concluded 2024 Lanka T10 Super League with a tournament haul of 12 wickets from 7 matches to emerging the top of the table leading bowler in the inaugural tournament.

It was by and large a tall feat from 7 matches averaging 8.64 for a player just out of school cast into the harshly challenging competitive arena of local and foreign talent.

That the youngster announced himself by a big leap netting in a strong arm bullseye knocking down the stumps of three star batsmen in Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis who has been on a record bang surge, and veteran Angelo Mathews to Afghanistan’a Najibullah Zadran, were certainly extraordinary hitting the ceiling doings.
Mathew was indeed, the revelation from the historic T10 fad that he turned into a magical breakthrough to announcing himself to Sri Lanka’s cricketing think tanks of a potential find for the future.

It is interesting that the youngster cut his teeth in the game at St.Anthony’s, Katugastota which produced spin great, now world cricket’s all time highest wicket taker Muttiah Muralidaran.

In a thrust of mighty doings, the hitherto unknown quarter in the game, coming through king sized was best illustrated by Mathew putting into a backseat more recognized players in the art of bowling.