Nishan Madushka on the verge of reaching a milestone

Ragama CC wicket-keeper batsman Nishan Madushka is likely to reach a milestone when they meet Kandy Customs CC in their Major Club Three-day cricket tournament fixture at Thurstan grounds today. 12 inter-club matches will commence today with Madushka the prolific run-getter of Ragama CC who has scored 925 runs in five matches just short of 75 runs to complete 1000 runs in this tournament.

The 23-year-old right-hander is in top form having scored heavily with five centuries including centuries in both innings against Galle CC and an epic knock of 300 runs against Sebastianites which is the highest individual score so far in this tournament and last week once again he missed centuries in both innings against Police SC.

He scored 125 in the first innings and 81 in the second innings against Police SC to pass the 900-run mark This is an incredible batting display this season and he is knocking at the door for the National team.

The “Daily News” met Nishan Madushka with an exclusive interview yesterday and he was very keen to talk about his present performances in the Domestic level tournaments and spoke about his future cricket plans.

Actually, I was very keen to follow cricket from my childhood when I was in under 13 level I used to go to cricket practices at Moratu MV which has been my second home. Prasanna Dissanayake was my first coach who gave guidance from the junior level while my present coaches of club cricket built up my cricket career. My parents’ father Niroshan Fernando (a businessman) and mother Nadeeka Damayanthi (a housewife) gave good support from the beginning. My cricket life turned around after I joined Ragama CC, my present club.

At the school level, I represented under 13, 15, 17 and under 19 while I played five years for the college under 19 team and captained the side during my last year in 2018.

The school Moratu MV lacked facilities but we never went down and build up my cricket skills from school level. I have ability to maintain my mental fitness and maintain fitness to play the game and building up confidence is very important.

I was lucky to represent the National under 19 side while my last under 19 school season I was able to complete 1000 runs with nine centuries and was awarded Best Batsman of the Year award at the Observer – Mobitel awards ceremony as well as best Batsman Runner-up at the Dialog cricket awards ceremony. Becoming Best School Batsman of the Year at the Observer -Mobitel awards ceremony inspired me to go forward and it was an unforgettable moment of my cricket life said Nishan Madushka.

I was a member of 2018 under 19 world cup team under the leadership of Kamindu Mendis and won the plate championship in New Zealand. I got the opportunity to play plate round three matches and scored 95, 114, and 3 runs (run out) on New Zealand wickets and this was a good experience for me.

Then I got the opportunity to play the Emerging team Asia Cup under the leadership of Charith Asalanka and the last Emerging team tour in England was also unforgettable as I made a superb knock of 269 runs against the Kent team during our first four-day game. This was the highest score by Sri Lankan first-class player against England county and I was fortunate to do this achievement. Malinda Warnapura the batting coach and head coach Ruwan Kalpage did a fine job as coaches during this England tour.

Getting runs as a top-order batsman is always very pleasing and helps me to build my confidence. I knew my present form paved the way to enter the National team, Test cricket, and ODI which I always liked as i can bat in all three formats and work on my wicket-keeping skills, said young right-hander Madushka. Normally ODI and T20s I’m used to opening the batting while in the longer format I used to bat at number three.

I have an elder brother and two younger brothers and my second brother Isuru Nidharshana is a good batsman who already scored 100 and 95 runs in just two matches in the ongoing Under 19 Limited Overs cricket tournament and he is also following my footsteps. When I left school I got a chance to join Colts CC as a wicket-keeper/batsman I couldn’t get a regular place in the side. Especially I wanted to keep a wicket but two senior keepers were on the team at that time and I couldn’t get a place.

In the meantime, there was a practice match between Colts CC and Ragama CC I used to play my normal innings and Ragama CC coach Pasan Wanasinghe (former Sri Lanka ‘A’ all-rounder focused more on my ability and invited me to join the Ragama CC. This was the turning point of my cricket life. Ragama CC is a Colombo suburb club in Ragama but we are training at Thurstan grounds.

The former Ragama CC President Roshan Abeysinghe the renowned International cricket commentator and Present President Roshan Iddamalgoda who was the former MCA President and Our cricket Manager Hiran Gunasekara, always looks after our cricketers very well. The club from Ragama recently produced several talented National cricketers like Lahiru Thirimanne, Janith Liyanage the Present Captain is always a high boost to our youngsters said Nishan Madushka.

The present club coach Thamara Abeyratne and manager Hiran Gunasekara and Moratuwa CC head coach Sabu Jayantha Weerasuriya always backed me and let’s not forget my captain Janith Liyanage and all my teammates, without their support I would never reach this level.

I knew Kumar Sangakkara the former wicket-keeper and left-hand top-order batter who had a successful cricket career while I admired Sangakkara. Now we have to play very competitive cricket and a club like Ragama CC gives a good platform to build up National cricketers and they give all facilities to continue the game said Nishan Madushka.

Following are the matches that will commence today

Ace Capital CC Vs Army SC at Katunayake, Bloomfield Vs Chilaw Marians CC at Bloomfield grounds, CCC Vs Kurunegala YCC at CCC grounds, Lanka CC Vs BRC at Panadura, Navy SC Vs NCC at Welisara, Nugegoda SC Vs Air Force SC at Moratuwa, Police SC Vs Colts CC at Police Park, Ragama SC Vs Kandy Customs CC at Thurstan grounds, Saracens CC Vs Baduraliya SC at R. Premadasa Stadium, Sebastianites Vs Kalutara TC at Moors grounds, SSC Vs Moors SC at SSC grounds, Tamil Union Vs Negombo CC at P. Sara Oval grounds.