All-rounder Ramesh Mendis shining star at Moors SC

Ramesh Mendis, coming from Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda, a school well known for its swimming sports in the country, is one of the bright stars knocking at the door for the national selections in the near future. Ramesh started his school career at Devananda, Amabalangoda and was at this Institution till 14 years. After leaving school, the right hand bat and right arm off spinner took up club cricket at SSC, where he played for three years, before crossing over to Bloomfield CC and then playing for Moors SC for the last 2 years.

The 24-year-old Ramesh, speaking to Daily FT, said, “I started off at SSC and got ample support from Gayan Wijekoon and the other senior players. But I wanted to bat on top and bowl a few more overs. So I decided to leave SSC and join Bloomfield after one season. Head Coach Jeshan Mubarak helped me a lot at my second club. The last two years I am at Braybrooke Place where Gayan Wijekoon is back with the Moors SC.

“I am managed by Kushil Gunasekera from Under 19 onwards. He has helped me a lot for me to come up to this level in my career along with my school day coaching staff such as Viraj Chaminda, P Milton, and Surash Sanjeewa.

“In the last year at school I played only 8 matches for Dharmasoka Ambalangoda, since I represented the national Under19. I scored 800 runs and took 60 wickets in my final year at school. With the national team I have toured to Bangladesh, India, Asia Cup and Under 19 ICC World Cup in UAE. In 2014 we came up to quarter final and lost out. I became Runner-Up in the School Boy cricketer of the year, Best Bowler and Best All Rounder for two years in tandem.” Ramesh ended saying, “I did really well in the Bangladesh emerging team tour of Sri Lanka and our tour to South Africa. I took wickets against both countries and scored 54 not out and 97 not out in 2 one-day encounters away in South Africa. My ambition is to play for my country at highest level. I will try my level best to achieve with the support of my coaching staff and club management who are very supportive towards me at Moors.”

In the T20 among clubs Ramesh scored 119 runs in 6 matches averaging over 39 per innings and strike rate of 135.22. In Bowling he took 8 wickets with an excellent average of 11.12 with an economy rate of 4.68

Sadly the Moors SC will not move forward to the semi-final stage as their net run rate is lower than Badureliya SC and Colts CC, while NCC and SSC will move forward in the other group.(SJ)